Bellingham scores a brace as Real Madrid comeback in Barcelona

Two goals from English striker Jude Bellingham allowed Real Madrid to turn around a negative result and win 2-1 at FC Barcelona, retaking the lead in the Spanish football league, level with Girona.

The goal scored in the 90+2 minute by Bellingham, who reinforced the command of the list of top scorers in ‘La Liga’, with 10 goals, provided the ‘Merengues’ with a victory that they only really sought in the second half and left the Catalan rival at a distance of four points.

German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan opened the scoring for Barcelona in the sixth minute and it was after the Spanish champions had twice hit the Real Madrid post that the visitors equalised in the 68th minute with a thunderous strike from the England international.

At the age of 20, Bellingham is enjoying a dream start to his career in the Spanish capital, with 13 goals scored in as many games for Real Madrid, who, on Tuesday, had won by the same margin (2-1) at Sporting Braga’s stadium, for the Champions League.

This Sunday, at the Olympic Stadium, due to the renovation works of Camp Nou, FC Barcelona, FC Porto’s opponent in the ‘Champions League’, even started in the best way, in a match in which the Portuguese João Cancelo and João Félix were starters and substituted in the 77th minute, with the score at 1-1.

The hosts almost took the lead after Gundogan’s foray caught the visiting defense off guard and the Catalans could have doubled their lead shortly after 15 minutes when Fermin Lopez’s shot hit the Real Madrid post.

Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was given the same help at the start of the second half in the 51st minute when Inigo Martinez’s header hit the post and Real Madrid did not create the first chance until after 60 minutes when Aurelien Tchouameni’s shot was saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

The visitors were finally showing signs of discontent, emphasized by Bellingham’s strike from outside the area to restore parity, and it was with Robert Lewandowski in attack for the hosts that Real Madrid achieved a victory that they perhaps no longer expected, thanks to the striker’s opportunism.

Barcelona remained third in the league but could be overtaken by fourth-placed Atletico Madrid if they win at home to Alaves on Sunday in the first of two games in their second game against the defending champions.

In the other game played this Sunday, Las Palmas prevailed 2-1 at the Almería stadium, which continues to occupy the 20th and last position and remains the only team that has not yet won in the competition.