Jude Bellingham got his revenge at the Mestalla, playing a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s dramatic victory as they came from behind to beat ten-man Valencia in the dying moments after Vinicius was sent off for hitting Dimitrievski the 79th minute. The English midfielder had already been in the spotlight last season at the same stadium, when Gil Manzano whistled the end of the match just seconds from what would have been an equalizer for Carlo Ancelotti’s side at 2-3.
Bellingham notably protested against this controversial decision, exclaiming “that was a fucking goal”, a moment which earned him a direct red card and a two-match suspension, excluding him from matches against Celta and Osasuna.
Read more:
Liverpool offer Trent Alexander-Arnold £78m deal to fend off interest from Real Madrid
On Friday at the Mestalla, Bellingham redeemed himself by being the key man in Ancelotti’s victory, despite missing a penalty with Valencia leading 1-0. “The miss gave him extra motivation to deliver a unique performance,” Ancelotti said at a press conference. The Englishman’s reaction illustrates his growing status as leader in Madrid.
“With the missed penalty, my teammates could have blamed me, but they encouraged and comforted me. We demonstrated the character of Real Madrid with 10 players. I came back with a lot of desire and determination, hence the missed penalty didn’t affect me because I knew I was playing well. It’s nice to score the winning goal, but it’s more important that we play this way. I want to be a leader in the team, and I am. I proved tonight,” Bellingham explained. after the match.
He first assisted Kylian Mbappé for a goal which was canceled for offside, then prepared Luka Modric’s equalizer (85′), and in the 96th minute, he scored the winning goal taking advantage of a serious error by Hugo Guillamón. His willingness to press a man down in added time rewarded Madrid’s persistence, who thrived after Vinicius’s sending-off.
Read more:
Dálisson targets clash against ‘Real Madrid or FC Barcelona’
Bellingham was one of the few players to stand out in a poor first half for the White team, gaining momentum as the match progressed. He completed the most passes in the final third for Madrid (22, as many as Rodrygo) and was the second player to recover the most balls (6), just behind Lucas Vázquez.
After a slow start to the season, marked by difficulties in scoring, Bellingham has now scored seven goals in the last eight league matches. The best version of the English midfielder is beginning to emerge, much to the delight of Ancelotti, who admits he has no other player capable of being as decisive both offensively and defensively.
Read more:
Sporting CP pays tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo by renaming its academy
