Montjuïc started to the rhythm of the Stones' Start me up, but the match ended with the Beatles' Hey Jude at full blast. Two strikes from Jude Bellingham rescued a Real Madrid subdued by Barcelona in the first hour, a tense and nerveless Madrid that miraculously held on during the match in one of its typical bad performances this season, already at the back in marker from the 6th minute.
The afternoon painted black for the whites; their best news was to make it to the break alive after offering so little. In the aforementioned first period, the only individual duel they had won had been that of Carvajal's field draw. With Vinícius handcuffed by Araújo as so many other times, Madrid trusted everything to Bellingham, but for many minutes the Englishman could not even move thanks to Gavi's marking.
Everything changed for the whites close to game time with a misfortune that could not have benefited them more, Mendy's injury. The entry of Camavinga on the left side and his continuous ups in the center of the field brought a freshness not seen before in the whites and Bellingham was freed. A little later, partnered with Modric, who came on for Kroos (the Croatian celebrated no less than 500 clean sheets), he began to ask for the ball, unload the game and was unstoppable.
Madrid leveled the game in the 68th minute with Bellingham's right-footed shot from 25 yards that bent Ter Stegen's hands. His best goal since he was in Madrid and in an unexpected way for the Englishman, a goal more typical of Valverde and his long shots. Most of Bellingham's goals have been as a striker, bursting into the area by surprise. This is how he later explained his goal: "I had been saying for several weeks that I had to try from outside the area, because the rivals wouldn't expect it. It would be a surprise factor. I have the technique, I know it and I had to try. He entered through the square and I am very happy".
The 1-1 showed which foot the Englishman is on. Instead of the typical celebration by going to the line and opening his arms, he kissed the shield and angrily ordered his teammates not to hug him and to hurry to his field to try to do the second and take the three points.
That Bellingham is struck by fortune and is doing well right now no one can doubt. The second goal was more the product of luck than a well-crafted move. Carvajal crossed from the corner, Modric touched lightly and the ball fell to Bellingham, unmarked, because the Englishman has the virtue of almost always being where he needs to be. With everything in his favour, he made a poor shot, but the ball went between the legs of the German goalkeeper.
Bellingham was happy: "I wasn't at my best today, but right now everything is going well for me and sometimes it's not about doing anything special every time you touch the ball, but about combining well with your teammates, contributing to the group. I was there and just controlled, I knew I would score".
And he continued: "I had watched many classics from the sofa at home and today it was my turn to live it and do something great. I'm excited I got it".
Bellingham's numbers now surpass Cristiano's: he has 14 goals in 14 games. In addition, he accumulates ten MVPs. In his last campaign at Dortmund he had scored 14 goals. He has already equaled that record, high for a midfielder. There is no ceiling.
