MADRID — Jude Bellingham once again proved his worth under pressure, firing the decisive goal that lifted Real Madrid to a 2-1 victory over archrival FC Barcelona in a tense El Clasico on Sunday night (Monday in the Philippines) at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium — sealing Xabi Alonso’s first win in the storied rivalry and extending Madrid’s lead atop La Liga to five points.
The triumph not only snapped Barcelona’s four-game winning streak against Los Blancos last season but also reaffirmed Real Madrid’s resurgence under Alonso, who has been molding a new generation of stars anchored on the young Englishman’s leadership.
Kylian Mbappé set the tone for Madrid’s attack midway through the first half, calmly converting his 11th league goal from a precision pass by Bellingham. But Barcelona quickly responded as Fermin Lopez buried Marcus Rashford’s cross in the 38th minute, capitalizing on a rare defensive miscue by the hosts.
Bellingham restored order just five minutes later, reacting fastest to Éder Militão’s headed flick and slotting home from close range to put Madrid back in front — a lead they never relinquished despite Barcelona’s late surge.
Real Madrid nearly widened the gap after halftime, but Kylian Mbappé’s penalty attempt was foiled by Wojciech Szczęsny following a handball call on Eric García. From there, Madrid’s backline, anchored by Aurélien Tchouaméni and Antonio Rüdiger, stood firm against Barcelona’s pressing attack.
FC Barcelona’s night worsened when Pedri received a second yellow card in stoppage time for a reckless challenge on Tchouaméni, sparking a brief scuffle between players.
“Against Atletico we didn’t play how we wanted and today we had another chance to show what we can do, and we have to continue like this,” said Tchouaméni, referring to Madrid’s earlier derby setback.
Coach Alonso praised his squad’s grit and composure, saying the victory was a crucial psychological breakthrough after last season’s struggles. “We needed this feeling of being able to win a big game,” he said.
Barcelona assistant coach Marcus Sorg, standing in for the suspended Hansi Flick, struck a note of optimism despite the loss. “The season is long, we have 28 more games and we’re not scared about the situation now,” Sorg said./PN
