By Samuel A. October 28, 2023
In a game that has a lot of pedigree like the El Clasico, Jude Bellingham continued his stellar start to life at Real Madrid as his brace led Real Madrid to an El Clasico win, ending Barcelona’s unbeaten start to the season and handing them a huge blow in the title race. Ilkay Gundogan had given Barcelona an early lead before the Englishman took centre stage to equalise from long range, just before netting a second to win it late in the game.
It was a game with lots of aggression from both sides but few chances, mostly half chances, especially in the first half, and both goals seemingly came from nowhere with Ilkay Gundogan picking the perfect time to score his first goal for Barça. He gave Xavi’s side the lead five minutes into the game after Aurelien Tchouameni inadvertently sent a through ball into his own box, which fell to Ilkay, and the German beat David Alaba to fire home.
Missing Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde from the starting XI, a tenacious Barcelona had plenty of chances in the first half with Fermin Lopez hitting the woodwork, but Bellingham made them pay for those missed opportunities with barely 20 minutes left. Moments after Tchouameni had hit the woodwork from range, Bellingham received the ball outside the penalty area and hammered an out swinging shot under Ter Stegen’s top hand to equalise and make it 1-1.
Just when the game was getting wrapped up and seemed destined for a draw, old and new combined with Luka Modric accidentally feeding Bellingham who fired home for victory from a very close range.
The result moves Real Madrid top of La Liga, level on points with Girona and four points above Barcelona, who are third. All the pre-game talk was about how Barcelona could possibly stop Jude Bellingham, who’s been at the heart of everything for Real Madrid since arriving in the summer. Heading into the game, Bellingham was the joint third highest scorer across Europe’s top five leagues, but Barcelona did a fantastic job of preventing him adding to his 10 La Liga goal contributions for over an hour.
Barcelona’s tenacious midfield was led by Gavi showing an effervescence around the pitch. Fermin Lopez – a surprise inclusion ahead of kickoff – had a similar terrier spirit to help cut the supply to Real Madrid’s main man, but ultimately Los Blancos came into the game as Barcelona tired.
The visitors’ strength in depth ultimately proved the difference with Carlo Ancelotti able to call on Modric from the bench, compared to Xavi’s impact substitute in the shape of Oriel Romeu.
Bellingham likely would’ve found the space for his opener early in the game but he still had to produce the perfect shot, which arced away into the corner past a despairing Ter Stegen who may have been slightly disappointed to see it drop under his top hand.
In a hectic final 20 minutes, both sides had chances to win but again Real Madrid’s star quality decided things. There was definitely a hint of fortune about how Modric found Bellingham for the winner but no visiting fans will care, avenging Barcelona’s injury-time winner last time the sides met.
Speaking after the game, Barca manager, Xavi opined: “The summary is simple, 60 very good minutes from us and we score a goal, 20 good minutes from Madrid and they score two. Effectiveness makes the difference, we had chances and we dominated, making it 2-0 would have changed the game. I think Madrid’s victory today is unfair. We didn’t go for high pressure as much. It was difficult for us and we have a great team with strengths in front of us. It’s a shame because what we had planned went perfectly”.
Speaking about individuals, he added: “Gavi was sensational, he is the soul of the team. He has played as a pivot and he has done well, he hasn’t lost balls, he has won duels and he has given us a fundamental intensity for the team. Bellingham made the difference today, he scored the second from a lateral cross coming in from the back and it was an action that we had talked about, it was our mistake, the equaliser was a smash and grab… today it was effectiveness that made the difference”.
