Deadly strike: Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham (right) celebrating with teammates after scoring the second goal against Napoli during their Champions League Group C match at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples on Oct 3. — AFP
LED by Jude Bellingham playing with a style and self-confidence far beyond his 20 years, a new generation of Real Madrid players has stepped forward at the 14-time European Cup winners.
All three of Real’s players who helped produce goals in their 3-2 comeback at Napoli in the Champions League group stage last Tuesday were 25 years old or younger.
And they did so with their veteran teammates now providing supporting roles.
Bellingham set up 23-year-old Vinicius Junior to cancel out Napoli’s opener before the England midfielder made a spectacular solo run to put the visitors ahead in the 34th minute.
Fantastic feat: Jude Bellingham has scored 10 goals in nine games so far with Real. — AFP
After Napoli had pulled level, Real’s 25-year-old midfielder Federico Valverde unleashed a rocket of a shot that ricocheted off the bar and Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret before eventually going in for the 78th-minute winner.
Bellingham had scored several big goals already for Real this season, but his overall performance at Napoli’s Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was his best so far.
He started by robbing the ball from Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo and sliding it to Vinicius for the Brazil winger to slot home the equaliser from an angle. Bellingham topped that by slaloming past two defenders as he dribbled into the area.
Bellingham said that the victory was about decision-making, including when he saw Napoli’s defenders giving him that small bit of space he needed.
“As I was getting closer and closer to the goal I was trying to look for (Vinicius or Rodrygo), and when I saw the gap open I just decided to keep running with it,” Bellingham said.
“I am always confident that I can go around (defenders) and find a yard. I managed to do it for that one and found the corner.”
Bellingham, Vinicius and Valverde were accompanied by other younger players. Eduardo Camavinga, a versatile workman in the midfield is only 20; forward Rodrygo is 22; and holding midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is 23. Eder Militao (25), who is out for several months with a serious leg injury, is Real’s best central defender.
The victory at the Italian champions came after a summer when veteran striker Karim Benzema, Real’s most prolific scorer since Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure five years ago, was lured away to the Saudi Arabian League.
Nor were most of the other pillars of Real’s most recent European successes on the field in Napoli.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is injured, while Luka Modric, now 38, was again left on the bench by Ancelotti until he went on as a late substitute. The only long-time veterans to start were Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal.
Ancelotti acknowledged that Modric, who signed for another season this summer with Real, was upset about not playing more. Ancelotti had benched him at half-time during a recent 3-1 loss at Atletico Madrid and did not use the former Ballon d’Or winner at all in the following two matches.
“He did what we asked him to do. He went on and showed his experience and gave us control of the game,” Ancelotti said about Modric’s steadying hand in the second half at Napoli.
“He can contribute. That is what I ask of a player who is not playing and is a little angry.”
While Vinicius and Valverde have been starters for several seasons now and played key roles in helping Real win their most recent Champions League title in 2022, Bellingham’s impact on the team since his arrival this summer has surprised everyone, including his coach.
“I’m surprised he’s only 20 years old because he looks like he’s 30 because of his character and attitude,” Ancelotti said.
“He is always focused on the game and knows what he has to do. It’s unusual for a 20-year-old. He has a lot of quality, physical strength and skill.”
Bellingham has scored 10 goals in nine games overall so far with Real, with the latest a brace in the 4-0 win over Osasuna that sent them back to the top of the La Liga on Sunday.
That double took his tally in the Spanish League to eight, making him the leading scorer. Bellingham also netted a late winner to edge Union Berlin 1-0 in their Champions League opener last month.
Compare that to his 14 goals in 42 appearances for Borussia Dortmund in Germany and it is clear that Bellingham has taken his game to a new level in Spain.
Vinicius’ goal was only his second of the season after he missed several games with a leg injury. Once he is back to full form and fitness, his alliance with Bellingham promises to be lethal.
“Bellingham linked up well with (Vinicius) and they both have a lot of creativity,” Ancelotti said.
“Having both of them positioned on our left flank certainly creates a lot of danger.”
Real face a Spanish League game against Sevilla before they visit Portuguese side Braga in the Champions League on Oct 24.
Four days after that, Bellingham will get his first taste of a league “clasico” at Barcelona. — AP
