Madrid banking on Bellingham brilliance to turn tables on City
MADRID — Jude Bellingham is aiming to give Real Madrid the edge it badly lacked last season in the first leg of its Champions League quarterfinal against Manchester City on Tuesday, as he continues a remarkable first season in Spain.
England star Bellingham will lead Madrid’s attack alongside Vinicius Junior as the reigning European and Premier League champion visits the Santiago Bernabeu.
Battered and bruised in a 5-1 aggregate thumping by Pep Guardiola’s City at the semifinal stage last year, Real Madrid stumped up 103 million euros ($112 million) to sign the England star from Borussia Dortmund.
Madrid’s initial expectations for the 20-year-old were quickly smashed, as he surpassed them at lightning pace.
Bellingham began in stunning scoring form, with 14 strikes in his first 15 matches for the club, breaking the record of 13 held by Madrid greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano.
Having arrived at the club as a midfielder but mainly deployed in attack by Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, Bellingham quickly established himself as a leader and a fan favorite — Hey Jude, they serenade in the capital.
Although inevitably his goal flow has slowed in recent weeks, he remains Madrid’s top scorer and in addition to 20 across 32 appearances in all competitions, he also has provided 10 assists.
Madrid, who also seems poised to capture Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe this summer at the end of his contract, hopes Bellingham can help it catch up with City.
Guardiola believes Bellingham’s presence could be crucial for the record 14-time winner.
“(Bellingham’s) impact has been massive,” Guardiola told reporters in March.
“It’s a different team from last season — his influence is obvious, and we have to try to discover what he does to control it.”
Madrid has a long track record of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in Europe and did just that against City in 2022 on the way to glory.
Rodrygo struck in the 90th and 91st minutes against City to force extra time before Karim Benzema netted the winner to secure a remarkable 6-5 aggregate triumph for Los Blancos.
However, the following season Benzema was not fully fit, and a Madrid side lacking spine crumbled at the Etihad Stadium in a 4-0 second-leg thrashing.
Bellingham has shown a penchant for the big occasion numerous times this season.
The midfielder helped Madrid come from behind to beat Barcelona 2-1, netting a brace in the league match in October, including a 92ndminute winner.
Bellingham’s Madrid thrashed Barcelona 4-1 in his second Clasico appearance to claim the Spanish Super Cup in January, his first trophy with Madrid.
Eight points clear in La Liga, a second trophy beckons domestically, but Bellingham understands how much a Champions League victory would mean for his club.
“I’d much rather keep scoring in the 90-plus minutes than in the 15th, even though it might take a bit of strain (on) my heart and the fans’ hearts,” said Bellingham after a 94th-minute winner against Union Berlin in the group stage.
“That’s the history of the club, I’m new... but I’ve had a TV since I was little and I can’t remember from what age I’ve been watching Madrid complete comebacks where I’m thinking ‘there’s no chance’ and ‘it’s not possible’.”
Bellingham has four Champions League goals in six appearances this season, including netting twice against Serie A champion Napoli.
An ankle sprain and a suspension disrupted his start to 2024, but the City tie offers Bellingham a chance to get fully back on track against a club that would have loved to sign him before it became clear he had his heart set on Madrid.
Even at 20, Bellingham is drawing comparisons to some all-time greats.
“There are things about the way he plays that remind me of (Zinedine) Zidane — it’s his extraordinary quality on the ball,” declared Ancelotti in February.