The Englishman scored his first goal of this LALIGA EA SPORTS season, and it was a very important one.
Real Madrid now sit five points clear at the top of the LALIGA EA SPORTS table, thanks to a 2-1 victory at home against FC Barcelona in ELCLASICO on Sunday. As this fixture always is, this weekend’s game was once again a thriller. There were disallowed goals, red cards and a penalty save, all in addition to the three actual goals that made it onto the scoreboard. Click this link https://a.meridianbet.ke/c/C7pYjz to start gaming and stand a chance of winning big with Meridianbet.
The home team, after having a penalty decision overturned and another goal ruled out for offside, finally took the lead when Kylian Mbappé finished cooly from a beautiful Jude Bellingham pass. Although Fermín López equalised for FC Barcelona shortly afterwards, it was Los Blancos who went in at half-time 2-1 up thanks to a goal from Bellingham, who positioned himself well and then pounced to turn in an assist from Éder Militão. That’s how it finished. Despite both teams having chances in the second half, including an Mbappé penalty that Wojciech Szczęsny parried away, it remained 2-1.
That ended a run of four consecutive ELCLASICO defeats for Real Madrid. After losing each of their clashes with their rivals last season, Los Blancos won the first meeting with Barça of the Xabi Alonso era. It means they’ve won nine out of 10 games to start this LALIGA EA SPORTS campaign, consolidating their position at the top of the standings.
Bellingham: “It was a magnificent performance”
During his first season at Real Madrid, Bellingham was the main man in ELCLASICO, as he scored stoppage-time goals to win each of the league meetings between the clubs that season. After Real Madrid lost all four games against FC Barcelona last term, there was extra motivation to get the job done this time.
As Bellingham explained after the game: “Last year we played badly in the big games and today this victory was for everyone: players, staff, fans. it was a magnificent performance from the whole team. It’s a very important victory for us. We’re very happy and it’s a good day. We all put in a huge effort. That’s why we deserve the three points.”
As well as providing a perfectly timed assist for Mbappé to open the scoring, Bellingham got on the scoresheet himself. It’s his first league goal of the season, a season which he started late after undergoing shoulder surgery, while it’s his second goal overall and his second in a row, having scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League in midweek.
Although Bellingham turned the ball in from just a couple of yards out, he once again displayed excellent positional awareness and timing to score. Discussing this, he said: “These are my favourite goals. A lot of people say it’s luck, but for me it’s how I understand the game. When the ball goes here or there, position changes everything and I’m always ready if it comes to me. Militão got his head to it and then I was there to score.”
Coach Xabi Alonso has been delighted with Bellingham’s impact since the October international break, when he didn’t go away with England. Speaking about the player, the coach stated: “He did well against Juventus, against Barça and even at Getafe CF. He’s had three very good games. We knew that before the last break he needed minutes to get going and get a feel for things. He’s done better than expected after the break. He’s a player who’s very much about feeling, transmitting and connecting. He’s played some very good games.”
It seems that Bellingham has overcome his shoulder injury and is really starting to get the hang of his new coach’s system. He is a match-winner in ELCLASICO for the third time in just five LALIGA EA SPORTS games against FC Barcelona. That’s an incredible return, and he’s still only 22.
