An impressive brace from Jude Bellingham gave Real Madrid a 2-1 win over Barcelona on Saturday in the Englishman’s first La Liga derby.

The British international, who has started his career at Real Madrid brilliantly and with an excellent goal streak, fired a genuine long-range rocket into the top corner in the 68th minute to start the Merengues’ comeback after Ilkay Gundogan had settled into hosts Barcelona taking the lead in the Olympic Stadium in the 6th minute.

Bellingham’s first is fantastic! https://t.co/EayKAavyEy

– Bancada de Leão (@bancadadeleao) October 28, 2023

Bellingham scored his second goal to give Real the win in injury time, silencing Barcelona’s fans and reaching the 10-goal mark in La Liga this season.

Barcelona hit the post twice and were better for much of the match, but Bellingham is in unstoppable form and has made his mark in his first Spanish super classic, confirming he is the player of the moment in European football.

Bellingham’s two goals put Real Madrid top of the Spanish league, ahead of Girona on goal difference, with both teams four points ahead of Barcelona in third place.

The Catalans were boosted by the returns of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Konde and Raphinha from injury, with Xavi initially benching them while Frenkie de Jong and Pedri failed to recover in time. The Portuguese João Cancelo and João Félix were the starters and both left before the last ten minutes.

On the Real side, Carlo Ancelotti selected Ferland Mendy as left back, moving Bellingham into the number 10 role again.

However, it was another midfielder who played in the Clásico for the first time and opened the scoring: Barça signed Gundogan. The former Manchester City player was more perceptive when Aurelien Tchouameni intercepted Ferran Torres’ pass and deflected it into his own box.

Post denies Barça

Fermin Lopez, one of Barcelona’s emerging young academy players who has broken into the starting line-up, hit the post after the intense Gavi, another La Masia product, pressed high to win the ball back.

Gavi, Gundogan and López controlled the midfield, with João Cancelo’s more advanced position providing Barcelona with additional defensive security.

Barça hit the post again when Inigo Martinez headed in López’s perfect cross at the start of the second half and Real Madrid were then reduced to long-range shots. But that’s how Merengue’s comeback finally began, thanks to a perfect shot from Bellingham, with just over twenty minutes to go.

As the match headed towards a draw, Bellingham again emerged as a decisive figure – in the right place, at the right time, to fire through Ter Stegen’s legs after Luka Modric had parried Dani Carvajal’s cross. The classic confirmed it: the footballer of the moment is English, his name is Jude and he wears the shirt of Real Madrid.

JUDE CLUTCH BELLINGHAM

@LaLiga | @FCBarcelona 1×2 @Real Madrid#LaLigaELEVEN pic.twitter.com/ovsEocPEbX

– DAZN Portugal (@DAZNPortugal) October 28, 2023