Real Madrid’s recent acquisition, Jude Bellingham, once again showcased his prowess by securing a crucial goal in the second half. This achievement led his team to their third consecutive victory, a resounding 1-0 triumph over Celta Vigo in La Liga. With this win, Real Madrid continues their flawless start to the season.
Bellingham, only 20 years old, spearheaded the offensive efforts for the Spanish giants. Remarkably, this marked his fourth goal in merely three league games. Notably, his decisive strike came after Rodrygo faltered on a penalty earlier in the second half.
The match didn’t begin smoothly for Real Madrid, as Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr. had to exit the field due to a leg issue just 15 minutes into the game. This loss was felt deeply by Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, especially considering the existing injuries to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Éder Militão.
Ancelotti addressed Vinicius Jr.’s injury, stating, “Vinicius had some discomfort and we took him off. We’ll see what he has in the next few hours, he had some muscular discomfort in his leg. I don’t think [it’s serious]. He wanted to carry on…I think after the break [international break], he’ll be back. It’s a shame, he started well, he looked unstoppable.”
This incident marked Vinicius Jr.’s first muscular injury, a setback for the left winger who has impressively contributed 28 goals and 19 assists for Real Madrid since last season’s start.
Despite these challenges, Ancelotti remains confident in his team’s strength and depth. He asserted that Real Madrid won’t actively pursue additional signings, citing the squad’s ability to perform well even in the face of injuries and the departure of Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema.
Ancelotti emphasized, “It is a complete squad. If we are able to win without Courtois, Militao, Karim, and Vinicius, it means that the squad is well put together. They have done well.”
Celta Vigo also faced setbacks during the match, including an injury that led to Franco Cervi’s substitution just before halftime. The game’s intensity was evident from the start, as Celta initially believed they had taken the lead in the opening seconds.
However, VAR intervened, ruling out Jorgen Larsen’s goal due to a foul on goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was making his debut following a loan from Chelsea.
Ancelotti praised Arrizabalaga’s performance, stating, “Kepa has played well, a clean sheet is a good sign. He deserved to play, I have said in these games that the goal is well covered, both with Kepa and (Andriy) Lunin.”
A pivotal moment came when Rodrygo had the opportunity to secure the lead for Real Madrid through a penalty in the 68th minute. However, keeper Iván Villar thwarted his attempt, diving to save the shot.
Ancelotti expressed his thoughts on this, mentioning, “I told (Real midfielder Fede) Valverde that Luka (Modric) had to take the penalty, I don’t know what happened between them that they chose Rodrygo. I am a bit upset that Luka didn’t take the penalty.”
Yet, the story of the match was shaped by England midfielder Jude Bellingham. With just ten minutes left on the clock, Bellingham headed in a goal from Joselu’s assist off a corner. This exceptional performance further solidified his impactful start with La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
“Bellingham is doing very well, he keeps scoring. He’s doing it because he’s moving very well without the ball,” Ancelotti praised. “He’s intelligent, he arrives at the right moment.”
With three successful away matches behind them, Real Madrid is set to play their first home game against Getafe next Saturday. This marks a significant moment as renovations at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium are finally completed, promising an exciting chapter for the team.
