Bellingham scores twice as Real Madrid beat Barcelona
Jude Bellingham played the role of hero once again as he netted a brace in his first league Clasico to lift Real Madrid past Barcelona.
The young midfielder had been kept relatively quiet by the Catalan side in the first half.
In fact, most of the Real Madrid side.
The second half was a different story.
Madrid began to see more of the ball and were pinning Barcelona back. While not creating many goal scoring opportunities, it was a much better display and an equalizer wasn’t out of the question.
Bellingham took care of that in the 68th minute.
With all the Barcelona players inside their own half and a clearance from Gavi, the ball landed to Bellingham who set up and blasted a shot past Marc-Andre ter Stegen. A shot that some would say he should have done better but none of that matters to Madrid.
Almost out of nothing, as despite alleviating some of that Barcelona pressure from the first half and having more possession, the Catalan defense was holding firm.
The clock kept ticking and already into stoppage time, it looked like a draw was going to be the final outcome.
But sometimes someone just has that magic touch. Some would call it luck but it’s the same either way.
On a cross that was too hard hit for Luka Modric to control, the ball deflected off his leg, into the ground and then took a hop too high for Iñigo Martinez to clear. The ball landed perfectly to Bellingham who poked it through the legs of Ter Stegen.
Just like that, Real Madrid were ahead and, ultimately, went on to win the game.
Bellingham is having a dream start to his Real Madrid career, scoring in almost every game and now scoring his first two goals against Barcelona. Goals that gave his side the victory.
With the win, Real Madrid keep pace atop the league table alongside Girona who could have been the beneficiary had the result ended in a draw.
The honeymoon has to end at one time or another. But for now, Real Madrid and Bellingham are going to enjoy it.