Jude Bellingham snatched Real Madrid a dramatic 3-2 Clasico win over champions Barcelona on Sunday with a “fundamental” purpose to take them 11 factors clear on the prime of La Liga.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti hailed the England midfielder’s decisive intervention to take Los Blancos to the brink of the Spanish title.
Madrid twice got here from behind with Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez netting to degree Andreas Christensen and Fermin Lopez strikes, earlier than Bellingham rammed house the winner in stoppage time.
“He arrived at just the right time, he worked so hard in the game, it’s been a while since he scored and today he scored a goal that could be fundamental in winning the league,” mentioned Ancelotti.
Barcelona, second, bounced again with a robust efficiency after their Champions League exit by the hands of Paris Saint-Germain however their final stand was demolished by Bellingham.
Madrid confirmed the identical grit to remain within the match as they did midweek towards Manchester City on the best way to the ultimate 4 in Europe, earlier than Bellingham’s knock-out blow left the Santiago Bernabeu crowd delighted.
Madrid’s prime scorer with 21 objectives throughout all competitions, the previous Borussia Dortmund man netted twice in Madrid’s Clasico win over Barcelona in October and is shining in his first season in Spain at solely 20 years outdated.
“We took a huge step towards La Liga,” Vazquez, key in all three Madrid objectives, instructed Real Madrid TV.
“We’ve had a very good season, we’re on a very good path, now we just have to polish it off and we’ll go for everything.”
Madrid’s penalty-saving hero towards City, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, made an early mistake at hand Barcelona the lead.
The Ukrainian strayed from his line to attempt to cope with a nook however bought nowhere close to the ball and Christensen nodded into the empty internet.
However, Madrid have been rapidly degree via Vinicius, who fired over a fantastic probability earlier than levelling from the spot.
The sensational Vazquez escaped Joao Cancelo far too simply and was tripped within the space by 17-year-old Barca heart again Pau Cubarsi.
Barcelona weren’t deterred and made inroads down their proper flank with Lamine Yamal giving Eduardo Camavinga a torrid time.
‘Disgrace’
The 16-year-old starlet thought he had struck with a intelligent flick from a nook however Lunin pushed the ball to security, with Barcelona arguing it had already crossed the road.
La Liga doesn’t contract goal-line expertise and utilizing video assistant referee (VAR) the officers couldn’t verify the ball had fully entered the purpose, so the Catalans have been left pissed off.
“We deserved much more given the way we played but there’s not much we can do,” mentioned Xavi.
“(Not having goal-line technology) is a disgrace.”
Barcelona have been dealt a blow on the stroke of halftime when midfielder Frenkie de Jong was taken off on a stretcher after hurting his ankle in a problem by Fede Valverde.
Xavi additionally introduced Lopez on for Christensen on the interval and it paid dividends for the coach after a slower begin to the second half.
The midfielder was in the proper place on the proper time to complete after 69 minutes when Lunin may solely parry Yamal’s low effort again into hazard.
However Madrid, searching for a fifth league and Champions League double, swiftly struck again when Vinicius crossed to the again put up and Vazquez arrived to complete.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a superb save to thwart Vinicius with Madrid on the lookout for a winner to nearly wrap up their La Liga title.
Bellingham dealt the killer blow, regardless of largely being saved quiet by the Catalans till he appeared to emphatically resolve the match in stoppage time from Vazquez’s cross.
“Xavi, stay,” mocked Real Madrid’s followers with the Barcelona coach attributable to go away on the finish of the season.
Earlier Atletico Madrid suffered a 2-0 defeat at Alaves to dent their possibilities of a prime 4 end and finish a woeful week, following their Champions League exit.
Diego Simeone’s aspect, fourth, lead fifth place Athletic by three factors after Carlos Benavidez and Luis Rioja’s strikes consigned them to defeat.
“We’re in a terrible dynamic,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak instructed DAZN.
“We have to improve and if we don’t, this end to the season will be very tough.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
