Real Madrid emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over Napoli on wednesday. The star of the match was none other than Jude Bellingham, whose performance was so impressive that it drew favorable comparisons with the legendary Zinedine Zidane from the team’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti.
📊| Rodrygo’s last 4 games for Real Madrid:
◉ vs Braga: ⚽️🅰️
◉ vs Valencia: ⚽️⚽️🅰️🅰️
◉ vs Cádiz: ⚽️⚽️🅰️
◉ vs Napoli ⚽️
Sensational form 🇧🇷🌟 pic.twitter.com/bdInfvVvYt
— Real Madrid News (@onlyrmcfnews) November 30, 2023
In the Group C match held at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid was up against Napoli. The game started with a surprising turn of events as Napoli took the lead with Giovanni Simeone scoring the first goal of the match. This put the hosts, Real Madrid, on the back foot early in the game.
🇧🇷🚀 A man on hot form right now. Rodrygo (22) with a superb strike vs Napoli! ✨ pic.twitter.com/8Dmv1UlTcz
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) November 30, 2023
However, Real Madrid quickly regrouped and responded with an equalizer from Rodrygo. This levelled the score, bringing a sigh of relief to the Madrid fans and injecting a renewed sense of energy into the team.
The turning point of the match came when Jude Bellingham, stepped up to the challenge. Displaying his exceptional skills and precision, he scored a brilliant header that put Madrid ahead with a 2-1 lead.
Frank Zambo Anguissa, midfielder from Napoli, managed to level the scoreline at 2-2 after the half-time break.
Real Madrid youngster Nico Paz, stepped up to the challenge. Paz scored a goal that once again tilted the scales in Madrid’s favor, restoring their lead in the game.
As the match was nearing its end, it seemed like Madrid had secured their victory. But, in a surprising twist, Jude Bellingham, provided a crucial assist. This assist set up Joselu perfectly, who then scored a goal during the added time.
Here's the video of Jude Bellingham playing like Zidane vs Napoli ❤️🔥pic.twitter.com/SabMJtjv1Q
— O F F K E Y🕴🏾 (@Luckson1606) November 30, 2023
“It’s difficult to compare two different generations,” Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference when asked about comparisons with Zidane, who was watching the game at the Bernabeu. “What I see is [Bellingham’s] ability to get into the box. Zidane didn’t have that. And the individual quality which Zidane had, Bellingham doesn’t have.
“But that’s modern football. Modern football requires physical players like Bellingham, who can cover a lot of the pitch quickly.”
Jude Bellingham, has been making waves in the football world with his exceptional performances for Real Madrid. His scoring prowess is evident in his impressive record of netting 15 goals in just 16 games for the club.
But what sets Bellingham apart is his consistency. He has managed to find the back of the net in every single Champions League appearance he has made for Real Madrid so far.
“It looked like he was very tired in the middle of the second half,” Ancelotti said. “He took 10 minutes to recover and then in the last 15 minutes he made the difference to help us win. It’s surprising. I don’t think anybody could have imagined his adaptation to this style of football, to this club.
“He surprises every day, in every game. Not just us, he’s surprising everybody. [Bellingham] is a gift for football. His coach and his teammates are delighted with him, and the fans are delighted with him, but everybody is delighted to see a player with this potential and this positive image.”
In the final moments of the match, precisely at the 94th minute. This was a significant achievement, especially considering that he had missed several opportunities earlier in the game. His perseverance and determination were finally rewarded, much to the delight of his team and fans.
Upon witnessing this triumphant moment, Bellingham, his teammate, was quick to acknowledge Joselu’s contribution. He encouraged Joselu to bask in the applause that erupted from the spectators at the Bernabeu stadium.
“Bellingham is a young, serious professional,” Ancelotti said. “He’s adapted well to the dressing room. He has to improve his Spanish. As I’ve said many times, nobody is perfect!”
Rodrygo, the in-form striker from Madrid, when asked to comment on Bellingham’s influence on the game. He expressed, “Words fail me,”He further added, “Sharing the field with him is a delight,”
The recent 4-2 victory has ensured Madrid’s strong position in the Champions League round of 16, securing their place as the group winners.
Madrid, currently leading the pack in the LaLiga table, are facing a challenging situation. An injury crisis has hit the team hard, rendering eight of their key players unavailable for selection. This has undoubtedly put a strain on the team’s resources and posed a significant challenge for their coach, Ancelotti.
Despite these setbacks, the team’s spirit remains unbroken, they are set to host Granada this Saturday.
ALSO READ | Jude Bellingham Stuns Barcelona With 2 Goals, Becomes Real Madrid Legend