Bellingham lifts Real Madrid in El Clasico vs. Barca
Real Madrid emerged as the comeback winners of Saturday’s Clasico against Barcelona thanks to the heroics of Jude Bellingham, whose two goals canceled out an early Barca goal at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
With the result, Barcelona have their first loss of the LaLiga season and fall to third on the league table as Real Madrid leapfrog their way to first. Real Madrid’s comeback from being down a goal at halftime is the first such rally in El Clasico since 1988.
Barcelona looked at first to be cruising in front of a home crowd, taking an early lead through a sixth-minute Ilkay Gündogan goal. But then The Jude Bellingham Show began
First, the English midfielder scored from a stunning, thunderous shot in the 68th minute. Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen barely got a hand to it, but the speed and power behind it were too much. Then, in stoppage time, Bellingham scored the game winner. Dani Carvajal crossed the ball into the box, and Luka Modric got a toe to it, making it bounce toward goal, and Bellingham pounced, tucking it beyond Ter Steg
READ ALSO Ancelotti moulded Bellingham into Real Madrid’s runaway train
And there was more. In the 92nd minute, he was there inside the six-yard box, slotting past Ter Stegen for the winner. Ten league goals for Real Madrid’s No. 10 another challenge accepted, and El Clasico conquered at the first attempt.
READ ALSOBellingham not nervours ahead his first El Clásico
Before that, Madrid had been disappointing at Montjuic. They went behind early unconvincing defending by Aurélien Tchouaméni and David Alaba allowing Gundogan in and even so, there was no reaction. If Madrid had a plan for fighting their way back, it wasn’t apparent. They looked low on energy, unforgivable in a game of this magnitude, and short of ideas. By contrast, Barca looked focused, composed and defensively solid, vindicating manager Xavi Hernandez’s decision to pick three centre-backs, with Ronald Araújo helping out against Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior.