La Liga: Bellingham brace sees Real Madrid overcome Barcelona in El Clasico
England midfielder Jude Bellingham scored twice as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1 in Saturday afternoon’s El Clasico at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Ilkay Gundogan sent Barcelona ahead in the sixth minute of the La Liga contest, but Bellingham’s stunner in the 68th minute levelled the scores, before the summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund hit the winner in second-half stoppage time to cap a dream El Clasico debut.
Bellingham has now scored 13 times in all competitions for Los Blancos this season, and the result has moved Carlo Ancelotti’s side onto 28 points in the table, four clear of third-placed Barcelona.
Barcelona welcomed Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha back into their squad following injuries, with the trio starting on the bench, but Frenkie de Jong and Pedri both missed out despite being able to train on Friday.
On-loan Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo was selected further forward, joining Ferran Torres and Joao Felix in the front three, with Ronald Araujo moving across to right-back, while Fermin Lopez kept his spot in central midfield following his strong performance against Shakhtar Donetsk last time out.
Real Madrid had Ferland Mendy at left-back, while Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga missed out in midfield, with Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Kroos playing behind Bellingham.
Barcelona made the better start to the contest and took the lead in the sixth minute when Gundogan, who benefited from a break of the ball inside the Real Madrid box after a challenge from David Alaba, slotted the ball past Kepa Arrizabalaga, sparking jubilant scenes inside the stadium.
Vinicius Junior was straight down the other end and looked to pick out Rodrygo with a cross, but Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen was on hand to claim.
Fermin rattled one against the Real Madrid post in the 16th minute after Kroos had taken too long on the ball outside his own box, with Los Blancos wobbling defensively early on.
Antonio Rudiger sent a long-range effort just past Ter Stegen’s goal in the 22nd minute, but it was relatively comfortable for Barcelona, who were certainly the better side in the opening 30 minutes of action.
Smart defending from Dani Carvajal prevented Felix from having a shot on goal after excellent work from the on-loan Atletico attacker, who had driven towards the Real Madrid box.
Barcelona again carved out an opening in the 32nd minute when Felix played a clever pass into Alejandro Balde, but Kroos was across to make an excellent challenge at the vital moment.
Fermin lifted one over the Real Madrid crossbar in the 37th minute, before Carvajal struck into the side-netting down the other end during an open period of the contest.
The better football was being played by Barcelona, though, with Fermin excelling in the middle of midfield, while Bellingham was finding it difficult to get into the contest, and the half-time whistle blew at 1-0 to the hosts.
Rodrygo fired over the Barcelona crossbar from a narrow angle in the 47th minute, before the home side came close to a second on two occasions, with Inigo Martinez heading against the post before Araujo saw his effort kept out by Real Madrid goalkeeper Kepa.
Ter Stegen made a smart save to keep out a strike from Kroos in the 58th minute, with the shot proving to be Real Madrid’s first effort on target.
Cancelo then had a brilliant chance down the other end when he broke into the Real Madrid box, but the Portugal international missed the far post in a huge let-off for the visitors.
Lewandowski entered the field just past the hour, before Modric and Joselu came on for a Real Madrid side looking for inspiration in the forward positions.
Cancelo had another effort deflected wide of the Real Madrid post by Alaba in the 65th minute, before Ter Stegen had to make a brilliant save to keep out Tchouameni’s effort down the other end.
Real Madrid were level in the 68th minute, though, with Bellingham’s sensational effort from distance finding a route into the back of the net, with the midfielder again coming up trumps for Los Blancos.
Lamine Yamal became the youngest-ever player to feature in El Clasico when he entered for Barcelona in the 76th minute, while there was also a return to the field for Raphinha following injury.
Lewandowski just missed the target with a powerful strike in the 79th minute, before Gavi curled one over the crossbar, with the two teams level heading into the final 10 minutes.
Yamal saw a powerful attempt saved by Kepa in the 86th minute, but there was to be late drama, with Bellingham scoring his second in stoppage time, turning a cross from Carvajal, which had been helped on by Modric, into the back of the net from close range.
Raphinha had one deflected wide of the post in the final moments, but Bellingham proved to be the match-winner, with the 20-year-old’s stunning start to his Real Madrid career continuing.
