English midfielder Jude Bellingham scored a brace, helping Real Madrid secure a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the 11th round of La Liga.
Barcelona played better in the first hour of the match, taking an early lead and hitting the woodwork twice. However, Bellingham’s talent earned Real three points, allowing them to return to the top of the La Liga table. This marks the third victory for Real at Barcelona’s home ground in their last four away matches in El Clasico.
Prior to Bellingham, the last player to score a brace for Real against Barcelona in La Liga was Karim Benzema nine years ago. This time, the 20-year-old midfielder made his El Clasico debut with two bright moments that determined the match’s outcome. In the 68th minute, he received the ball from a distance of about 25 meters and fired a long-range shot into the top corner to equalize the score at 1-1. In the second minute of stoppage time in the second half, the English international made an intelligent run into the box and slotted the ball past Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Bellingham’s second goal had an element of luck, as Luka Modric seemingly mishandled Dani Carvajal’s cross. However, the ball arrived perfectly for Bellingham to strike, catching defender Inigo Martinez off guard and leaving him unable to intervene. After scoring, Bellingham ran to the corner of the away fans’ stand, raising both arms in celebration with a seemingly emotionless expression.
Bellingham only attempted two shots in this match but scored both goals for Real. Additionally, he didn’t leave a significant mark in other aspects of the game, even losing possession five times, more than the combined statistics of his teammates. He also didn’t create any chances for his teammates, but it was evident that he was the best player on the pitch due to his efficiency. Despite being a midfielder, Bellingham has now scored ten goals in 10 La Liga matches, leading the race for the Pichichi award.
Real didn’t have a single shot on target in the first half, a rarity in an El Clasico match since 2010. However, Barcelona failed to capitalize on this advantage and secure a comfortable lead.
Barcelona got off to a dream start when defender David Alaba made a poor clearance, allowing Ilkay Gundogan to go one-on-one with the goalkeeper and slot the ball into the far corner to open the scoring. A few minutes later, Toni Kroos was dispossessed by Gavi on the edge of the penalty area, but midfielder Fermin Lopez hit the woodwork from a close range. Early in the second half, defender Martinez had a header from a set piece that hit the post, and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Ronald Araujo’s rebound.
The El Clasico match was also entertaining due to both teams playing with determination. In injury time in the first half, Ferran Torres held and pulled down Vinicius near the touchline, but the referee did not award a foul. Barcelona’s manager, Xavi Hernandez, argued with Vinicius, claiming that Torres only used his shoulder to challenge. Immediately, Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, rushed out to protect Vinicius, preventing the situation from escalating.
Both teams also had a few disputed penalty appeals, notably Gavi’s challenge on Bellingham when the English midfielder faced the goalkeeper. It seemed that Gavi had made contact with the opponent’s leg before touching the ball, but referee Gil Manzano overlooked it. In response to controversial decisions made by the referee, a member of Real’s coaching staff reacted to the extent of receiving a red card and being sent off.
Barcelona suffered their first defeat in La Liga this season, and they face a challenging obstacle in Real Sociedad in the Basque Country in the 12th round. At the same time, Real Madrid returns to the Bernabeu to host Rayo Vallecano next weekend.
