Jude Bellingham was the hero for Real Madrid, scoring an outstanding solo brace including a crucial last-gasp winner to earn a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over rivals Barcelona in Saturday’s thrilling Clasico.
The English midfielder smashed home a long-range rocket in the second half to equalize after Ilkay Gundogan had put Barca ahead early on.
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And remarkably, Bellingham popped up again to grab the decisive goal in the 92nd minute, firing past Marc-Andre ter Stegen to stun the home fans into silence with practically the last kick of the game.
His two decisive interventions completed a sensational turnaround for Madrid after Carlo Ancelotti’s tactical tweaks helped revive an initially sluggish performance.
Bellingham’s first goal was an absolute thunderbolt from 25 yards that flashed beyond ter Stegen to bring Los Blancos level. It was a goal worthy of winning any Clasico and took Bellingham’s La Liga tally to nine this term.
But the 19-year-old wasn’t done yet. When Dani Carvajal’s cross found its way through to him two minutes into added time, he kept his composure to slot the winner and spark wild celebrations.
Bellingham continues to shine in his debut Clasico season, with his late strike also Real Madrid’s 500th goal against Barcelona in competitive meetings between the fierce rivals.
The result lifts Ancelotti’s side back to the top of La Liga, six points above Xavi’s Barca who remain fifth after the dramatic defeat.
For most of the first half, Madrid were second best and posed little threat apart from an Antonio Rudiger long shot. But the introductions of Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga gave them fresh impetus.
Bellingham had been quiet before his two decisive moments changed the entire complexion of the Clasico. His goals silenced Camp Nou after Gundogan had initially raised Barca hopes by slotting the opener on just six minutes.
In the end, Bellingham won the Clasico almost single-handedly with his talismanic performance just when Madrid needed inspiration. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo managed to win his first El Clasico for Los Blancos.
The English youngster is now undoubtedly Madrid’s star man, capable of winning the biggest games even when the team is struggling. His late magic shows Bellingham’s development into a genuine world-class match winner.
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El Classico Frequently Asked Questions
What is clasico match?
El Clasico is the term used to refer to football matches between Spain’s most famous and bitterest rivals: FC Barcelona and Real Madrid C.F. The two teams meet twice during a season, with an additional two times in the Copa del Rey, Champions League, and the Supercopa de España, and possibly in the UEFA Super Cup as well
What is the meaning of El Clasico?
El Clásico (English: The Classic, Catalan: El clàssic) is a football match between two Spanish rival football clubs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, in the Spanish football league La Liga. It is one of the most famous football matches in the world
When was the first El Clasico played?
The inaugural El Clasico was played on May 13, 1902. This match was a friendly and played 27 years before the establishment of the La Liga championship in 1929 so not official an ‘El Clasico’ match. Barcelona founder Joan Gamper scored in the match
How many times has Barcelona beat Real Madrid?
Barcelona leads the head-to-head results in competitive matches with 96 wins to Real Madrid’s 95; Barcelona also leads in total matches with 115 wins to Real Madrid’s 99 as of match played on 2 March 2019.
What is the biggest win in El Clasico?
The biggest win in El Clasico came in 1943 in the Copa Del Rey when the Los Blanco thrashed FC Barcelona 11-0 on 13 June, 1943. The second biggest win was another Real Madrid in 1935 which ended 8-2 in a La Liga fixture
Which player has scored the most goals in El Clasico?
In total, Messi has scored 25 goals against Real Madrid – well ahead Los Blancos legends Alfredo di Stéfano (who scored 18 goals against Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (17).