BARCELONA (AP) – Jude Bellingham gave Girona a reality check yesterday after he led Real Madrid to a 3-0 away victory over the early-season sensation in the Spanish league.
Girona entered the round undefeated and on a six-game winning streak that had taken them to the top of the standings for the first time in the club’s history.
But Bellingham put Madrid on course for the win by producing a superb pass for Joselu Mato’s 17th-minute opener. After Aurélien Tchouaméni quickly doubled the advantage, Bellingham rounded off the scoring with his league-leading sixth goal in eight rounds.
“It was an important win,” Bellingham said. “We made a statement of intent to La Liga – three goals and a clean sheet against a team that was doing very well.”
Madrid climbed over Girona and Barcelona to the top of the standings. Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid now leadsBarcelona by one point and Girona by two.
Girona had the early initiative until Bellingham again showed why Madrid spent big to acquire the 20-year-old England player from this summer.
Bellingham used the outside of his right boot to bend a pass around three defenders and connect with Joselu at the far post where the striker fired home.
“That pass by Bellingham was spectacular and that goal hurt us a lot because until then we were playing well,” Girona coach Míchel Sánchez said. “Madrid was full-on today and that opener made us realise how tough the game was going to be.”
Bellingham said his pass was inspired by teammate Luka Modric, the veteran midfielder who was on Madrid’s bench.
“I’ve been watching Modrić every day for three months,” he said. “I just want to be creative. It was a good goal because it took the pressure off us that they put on us at the start.”
Tchouaméni added a second goal in the 21st when he was left enough room to head in Toni Kroos’ corner kick.
Joselu returned the assist for Bellingham in the 71st when the former Espanyol striker found Bellingham to score after a three-on-two counterattack.
