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Jude Bellingham, a soloist who at the age of 20 behaves like an orchestra player so that he was the reincarnation of Di Stéfano, ruined in a moment the long spring party that Barça organized in Montjuïc with the Rollings. After the Madrid figure appeared, the Blaugrana stood with their mouths open and their tongues hanging out, to the astonishment of Mick Jagger and Ron Wood. Bellingham’s impact was overwhelming after a laborious and interesting exercise for Barcelona led by Gavi. In the end, no one remembered Barça or the Rolling Stones, but in the Olympic Stadium the Beatles’ “Hey Jude” could be heard without playing.
1
Ter Stegen, Ronald Araújo, Íñigo Martínez, A. Christensen, Alex Balde, Gündogan, Gavi, Cancelo (Lamine Yamal, Min. 76), Ferrán Torres (Lewandowski, Min. 61), João Félix (Raphinha, Min. 76) and Fermin Lopez
2
Arrizabalaga, Alaba, Dani Carvajal, Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy (Camavinga, min. 51), Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, Kroos (Modric, min. 63), Vinicius Junior (Lucas Vázquez, min. 95) and Rodrygo ( Joselu, Min. 63)
Goals 1-0 min. 6: Gündogan. 1-1 min 68: Jude Bellingham. 1-2 mins 91: Jude Bellingham.
referee Jesus Gil Manzano
Yellow cards Fermín López (min. 17), Ferrán Torres (min. 46) and Dani Carvajal (min. 60)
Madrid and with it the classic were brought together in Bellingham. The promotion and the White leadership, as well as the cruelty that an injury-time defeat meant for the Blaugrana, can be explained by a player who has already scored 13 goals in 13 games, ten of them in the league. Bellingham’s protagonism turned Ancelotti’s predictable plan and Xavi’s interventionism into an anecdote. The Madrid player simply chose Mendy instead of Camavinga, certainly to give the team more symmetry and defensive order, although in recent games it had been more vulnerable on the sides, but reduced in Sevilla. However, whoever plays, Madrid usually concedes a goal at the start, including in Montjuïc. Gündogan wanted to throw a wall with Ferran, he didn’t manage to cut through Tchouameni, Alaba wasn’t there with Rüdiger either and the German ended up shooting into the net: 1-0
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Gündogan is a good gripper and passer, undeniable for Xavi, who is instead occupied as central midfielder, a position that doesn’t quite work in De Jong’s absence. That’s why the coach decided to sacrifice Oriol Romeu and bring in a third central defender, very fit like Iñigo Martínez, while the distributed Cancelo opened the field like a classic seven. The classic allows for many gestures to create expectations until the ball comes into play; So jokes are not worth it, especially not with the injured, of which there are many at Barça – Raphinha and Lewandowski remained on the bench.
The excellent dynamics of Gavi, Gündongan and Fermín in midfield confirmed Xavi’s bet. Barça were a compact team, very focused in defense and as selective as they were direct in their attempts, which was evident shortly after Gündogan’s goal with a shot against Fermín’s post after a push by Gavi. The midfielder dominated the field as Madrid filled the ball with the ball, only breathing from time to time on the side of Vinicius, watched by Araujo, and later on the side of Carvajal, the striker against Balde. The winger was the only Real Madrid player to win his duels after the 1-0 lead.
Madrid, relaxed and thoughtful, without aggression or nervousness, could not find Ter Stegen’s goal and also did not know how to finish Kepa’s goal. Barça looked more energetic, strengthened by Gavi and Fermín and stretched by João Félix. Barça’s only concern was the card that Fermín took. Gil Manzano enforced his refereeing behavior without any further problems other than the card management and a possible penalty from Tchouameni for grabbing Araujo after a corner that ended in a yellow card for Ferran Torres.
Barça, tender and lazy in retreats, was obsessed with not losing the ball so as not to facilitate Madrid’s counterattacks and therefore often indulged in a containment exercise that gradually led to Madrid taking the lead. However, the best chances still belonged to the Barça team: Iñigo Martínez hit the post and Kepa later parried Araujo’s shot, while Cancelo failed to score in an action that was badly saved by Camavinga, Mendy’s substitute. With the use of Lewandowski, the Portuguese began to find the field and ball in an offensively strengthened team.
Ancelotti reacted quickly, player by player, Modric and Joselu for Kroos and Rodrygo. However, Madrid started shooting and scored a great goal from Bellingham. The Real Madrid player hit a rebound outside the penalty area and beat Ter Stegen, who was weak in his hands and more vulnerable than in the last league. The goal confirmed Barça’s exhaustion personified in Fermín. Due to the impatience of the dedicated fans, the Blaugrana lost the ball and control: there was a record attendance in Montjuïc (50,112). The stands sighed when the referee failed to award a penalty for a challenge by Araujo on Camavinga.
The move seemed to help Barça balance the game, which was becoming increasingly open, especially as the Blaugrana left their pitch to encourage Madrid’s counterattack in return. The Barça fan is already used to his team being beaten in the final stages of league and Champions League games. The difference is that Madrid were ahead and improved through Modric and Camavinga and especially Bellingham. The Englishman finished off a cross from Carvajal in stoppage time, which was fortunately touched by Modric to the despair of a weary Barça, and was surpassed by a Madrid with more physicality, more power, more maturity and more points – four – with Sir Bellingham’s permission .
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