Bellingham brilliance sees Real beat Barca in El Clasico

La Liga

FC Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as Real Madrid fought back from a goal down to beat FC Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico.

Barcelona made the perfect start with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan opening the scoring from close range in the sixth minute by taking advantage of a bad defensive mistake by the visitors.

However, Barca, who hit the woodwork twice, were punished for failing to convert their dominance into goals as Bellingham made the most of the two chances he had in the second half.

First he unleashed an unstoppable strike from range into the upper-left corner in the 68th minute and then, in stoppage time, he scored the winner after collecting a Luka Modric pass inside the box.

They were Bellingham’s 12th and 13th goals in 13 games in all competitions since he joined Real Madrid this summer, including a Spanish league-leading 10 goals in 11 matches.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said on Bellingham’s contribution: “We’re all surprised by the amount of goals Jude has scored. He’s incredible, extraordinary.

“He seems like a veteran. He has a very good attitude.

“The equaliser changed the entire dynamic. We became stronger and had more energy and Barcelona started to get weaker – they had played better until that moment.”

The win sees Real Madrid remain top, level on 28 points with second-placed Girona, with Barcelona in third place, four points back.

Barca took the lead on six minutes when Gundogan combined with fellow former Manchester City player Ferran Torres and calmly fired past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Vinicius Junior spurned a chance to level and Barca almost doubled their advantage when Fermin Lopez struck the post.

Real also hit the woodwork when Dani Carvajal drove against an upright before the break.

Lopez hit the post again early in the second half and Kepa reacted quickly to deny Ronald Araujo on the rebound.

Real began to rally in the latter stages with Aurelien Tchouameni having a powerful drive touched onto the frame of the goal.

Bellingham then took charge of proceedings when he brilliantly curled home a shot from 25 yards.

The game could still have gone either way and Robert Lewandowski had a chance to put Barca back ahead when he fired over 10 minutes from time.

It was Bellingham who was to have the final say, however. The 20-year-old was once again in the right place at the right time as he pounced to clip home after a Carvajal cross that was flicked on by Modric

Barcelona will look to bounce back with a tricky trip away to Real Sociedad in La Liga next Saturday; kick-off 8pm. Meanwhile, Real Madrid host cross city rivals Rayo Vallecano on Sunday at 8pm.