Bellingham scores twice as Real struggle again to win at Almeria

AFP

Real Madrid new recruit Jude Bellingham scored twice and guided the Spanish giants to a 3-1 comeback win at Almeria on Saturday, with a surprising strike from Vinicius Jr guaranteeing the factors.

Bellingham took his tally to 3 objectives in two video games as Real secured their second successive win.

The 20-year-old England midfielder, signed for €103 million plus €30 million in add-ons from Borussia Dortmund, once more seemed unstoppable as he led most of Real’s scoring alternatives.

The versatile midfielder resides as much as the excessive expectations, combining properly with Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr within the new 4-4-2 formation, and has crammed the void left by the departure of 2022 Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema, who left for Saudi Arabia.

Almeria took Real unexpectedly within the third minute, scoring after a lightening fast counter-attack as Sergio Arribas headed in from a Lucas Robertone cross from the left.

But the Spanish giants shook it off rapidly and piled on the strain, leveling within the 18th minute with a tidy Bellingham end from shut vary after a pleasant mixture with Federico Valverde.

Bellingham knocked down a Valverde header together with his shoulder and, after the ball awkwardly bounced again at a defender, fired into the far nook.

Real stored attempting to interrupt Almeria’s impasse and Rodrygo had a great probability that went simply broad within the twenty seventh minute, simply earlier than the referee cease play attributable to Almeria’s scorching warmth.

Almeria’s Iddrisu Baba and Robertone had been each denied by goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who has been referred to as into the line-up after common keeper Thibaut Courtois tore a ligament in his left knee and might be sidelined for a number of months.

In the sixtieth minute, Toni Kroos discovered Bellingham ghosting between two defenders and delivered a scientific cross to the England midfielder who nodded the ball previous the flailing goalkeeper Luis Maximiano.

Vinicius Jr then made it 3-1 within the 73th minute with an excellent dipping strike from simply contained in the field which arched over Maximiano and into the highest proper nook.

“I was a bit lucky (with scoring the goal), but I’m very happy to get my first of the season,” Vinicius instructed Real Madrid TV.

“We have to continue like this, me and everyone. I hope the connection with Bellingham grows to the same level that we had with Karim so we get a lot of goals and assists.”