Madrid hail new hero as Bellingham brace sinks Barca

Jude Bellingham will never forget his first ‘Clasico’ match as the England midfielder scored twice, including a stoppage-time winner, to lead Real Madrid to a 2-1 comeback victory at Barcelona in the Spanish league.

They were Bellingham’s 12th and 13th goals in 13 games in all competitions since he joined Madrid this summer, including a Spanish league-leading 10 goals in 11 rounds – but this brace was extra special with the Englishman’s first goal a dazzler.

Barcelona had gone ahead in the sixth minute through former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan’s first goal for his new club, and the home side also hit the woodwork twice before Bellingham equalised.

Bellingham had been kept in check by Barcelona’s Gavi Paez until he found space well outside the box to unleash a wonderful strike in the 68th minute that swerved past Marc-Andre ter Stegen and hit the corner of the net.

Bellingham then tapped in the stoppage-time winner when a cross by Dani Carvajal, deflected by Luka Modric, fell to him in front of the net.

Madrid remained top, level on points with second-place Girona, with Barcelona in third place four points back.

Bellingham has transformed into a clinical finisher since moving to Spain’s capital. In all of last season, he had 14 goals for former club Borussia Dortmund in Germany.

While his winner was a goal of instinct and knowing where to be in the final seconds just in case the ball came his way, his equaliser was a precise and powerful strike.

“He scored two goals and changed the game for Real Madrid,” ter Stegen said. “We had all in our favour and didn’t know how to hold onto the lead.”

Barcelona dictated the first half, and Gundogan’s insistence on chasing a ball that Madrid appeared to be certain to control or clear paid off with Barcelona’s early goal.

He worked a quick passing combination with Ferran Torres, but it was a poor touch by Aurelien Tchouameni that let Gundogan continue his run forward past Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, who were both slow to react.

Alaba failed to kick the ball to safety and Gundogan only had to tap it past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Barcelona almost found a second when Gavi stripped the ball from Toni Kroos near Madrid’s area and set up Fermin Lopez, whose shot hit the post. Inigo Martinez also headed off the post in the 51st.

Gavi, Barcelona’s 19-year-old workhorse, was everywhere — tackling Vinicius Junior on the flank and hustling to bail out his defence — but that only lasted until Bellingham took over and delivered a statement performance that will add to his status as Madrid’s new star.

“They had 25 good minutes and scored twice, and we had good 60 minutes and only scored once,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez sighed. “I sincerely think that if one team should have won today it was Barca. But Madrid are like this. If you don’t finish them off, they come back and kill you.”

Rock legend Mick Jagger attended the game to see Barcelona’s players wear special jerseys featuring the Rolling Stones’ iconic “hot lips” logo in place of the club’s normal shirt sponsor.

The game was the first “clasico” at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, where Barcelona are playing this season while Camp Nou is remodelled.