Jude Bellingham was the star of the first Clasico of the season, scoring twice at Barcelona’s temporary Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to overturn their 1-0 lead, including a stoppage-time winner.
It was a similar scenario on Sunday night as Bellingham scored again in stoppage time for Real Madrid, but sealed a record 36th La Liga title with a 3-2 win. But the circumstances couldn’t have been more different.
It was Bellingham’s 21st goal of the season in 36 games, but he hadn’t scored since Feb. 10 against Girona. This sparked some debate and criticism, although it was not shared by the board, the coaching staff or his teammates, who were always by his side.
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“He arrived at the right time,” said head coach Carlo Ancelotti. “He played a match with a lot of effort, working hard. Now this goal could be fundamental to winning the championship.
There were plenty of duels on the pitch, but any analysis had to take a backseat to the Englishman’s winning effort.
Ancelotti was right when he said Bellingham arrived at the right time – in the 91st minute, to be precise. Brahim Diaz made a smart run towards the center and passed to Lucas Vazquez. The right-back sent a low ball into the area, where Joselu failed to touch the ball.
It didn’t matter. There, following the trajectory of the ball and passing unmarked to the far post, was Bellingham. The man who had scored 17 goals before Christmas for Madrid, supporting the team with his consistency in these uncertain times.
With a powerful left-footed strike, Bellingham reminded Madrid supporters of all these qualities. It was total ecstasy at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the newly renovated stadium roof closed for the first time during a Clasico and the inauguration of the pitch’s 360-degree video scoreboard.
Bellingham ran towards the corner, where Vazquez was waiting for him – one of the teammates the 20-year-old has clicked with the most since arriving from Borussia Dortmund last summer. The two men danced together, aware that this victory would put them 11 points ahead of Barça at the top of the table.
“It’s a very cool photo,” Vazquez said in the mixed zone at the Bernabeu. “We have done this celebration in some training sessions and today was the right time.”
In a social media post popular with Madrid fans, Bellingham had stronger words to praise Vazquez’s contribution in winning the penalty to make it 1-1, scoring Madrid’s second equalizer and providing the cross to the winner.
“Lucas Vazquez, fucking legend,” he wrote on X.
But before that, players and substitutes, members of the technical staff and technicians had all celebrated, aware that La Liga was in their hands like never before this season.
They were not the only ones to benefit from this comeback against Barcelona, who had taken the advantage twice. Rafael Nadal was in the stands, taking advantage of the Laureus World Sports Awards and the Mutua Madrid Open in the Spanish capital to watch the Clasico, alongside other tennis kings like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal has been touted as a possible future president of the club.
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NFL legend Tom Brady didn’t want to miss the occasion either – and even celebrated the event with the team in the locker room afterwards.
👏 @TomBrady congratulated the players @Real Madrid.#The classic
– Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) April 21, 2024
After his goal, Bellingham made his gesture with open arms and kissed the badge. He walked back towards midfield and looked up at the vocal section of Grada fans in the South Stand, waving his fists in the air happily. But the midfielder knew his job was not yet done and continued to sprint up the pitch in the closing stages.
As time expired for the comeback victory, spectators at the Bernabeu began chanting “Xavi, stay!” and the usual song “Asi, asi, asi gana el Madrid” (“That’s how Madrid wins”). The latter was sung by Bellingham himself at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday when he jumped into the crowd of madridistas who had traveled for the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City.
At the final whistle, left back Fran Garcia ran towards Bellingham and jumped on his back. The players took a lap of honour, with Bellingham celebrating with his team’s supporters and silencing the Barça fans. The midfielder then joined his teammates in the center of the field. The evening ended in the South Stand, with an impromptu concert between the Grada Fans and the players.
It was time to celebrate another almost certain La Liga title and a third Clasico victory this campaign following January’s victory in the Spanish Super Cup final (Spain’s equivalent of England’s Community Shield) – the first time Madrid won as much from these meetings. in a single term since 1935-36.
It wasn’t Bellingham’s standout performance. And yet, he once again showed his privileged relationship with late goals. He scored against Getafe, against Union Berlin – and now twice against Barcelona.
His goal of winning the Clasico in October was in the 92nd minute; it was in the 91st. His contribution was all the more special as Madrid had not won a Clasico in stoppage time since 1966 before this season.
Bellingham seems to have internalized the club’s motto: “Hasta el final, vamos Real!” » (“Until the end, go Real!”). And he still has one more personal reward to win: he is second in the La Liga goalscoring charts with 17 goals, one behind Girona’s Artem Dovbyk.
Not bad for a 20-year-old who moved to a new country, a new league and a new position last summer. Barcelona are now feeling the full effect of the midfielder’s adaptation: three goals, including two late winners, and one assist in three matches.
The Spanish expression “caer de pie” – to fall on one’s feet – seems apt.
(Top photo: José Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)