Jude Bellingham keeps enhancing his reputation with his exploits for Real Madrid.
The England international scored a stunning solo goal to help his team to a 3-2 Champions League win at Napoli on Tuesday.
It was the eighth time he had found the net in nine games since making his summer switch to the Bernabeu.
Ahead of Real Madrid’s LaLiga outing at home to Osasuna on Saturday, we examine Bellingham’s sensational form.
Legendary comparisons
Bellingham’s slaloming wonder goal saw him pick up the ball near Napoli’s centre circle, burst through the opposition defence, before applying a calm finish within the penalty area.
Naturally, such a high-quality solo strike scored at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona drew comparisons to the legendary Argentine, which the 20-year-old laughed off.
Bellingham said: “That’s a bit too much!
“It was a nice goal. From what I’ve seen on YouTube and documentaries, his quality was a bit more than mine, or a lot more.
“I’m just trying to contribute in a Jude way.”
Bellingham is certainly doing just that. Any thoughts that he might need a settling in period before he showed his quality have been quickly dismissed.
Comparisons to past players are always difficult to judge but the midfielder’s form for Real Madrid suggests he may have realistic hopes of becoming the best of his own era.
Advanced role
Bellingham enjoyed a breakthrough campaign for Borussia Dortmund last season, in terms of productivity.
After scoring 10 goals in his first 90 games for the Bundesliga club, he scored 14 in 2022-23, while also assisting seven times.
Everything points to Bellingham blowing those impressive numbers apart this season.
In just nine games for Real Madrid, he has scored eight goals and assisted three, which included the pass for Vinicius Junior’s effort against Napoli.
Bellingham’s improved end product can be partly explained by him playing in a better team, alongside some of the world’s top players.
Another factor is the advanced role given to him by Carlo Ancelotti, which has solved a potential problem for Real Madrid.
England change
When Karim Benzema left Madrid he left a vacancy for a first-choice striker, that Los Blancos have yet to fill. Ancelotti devised a tactical plan to see the team through this season.
He has switched from playing with a 4-3-3 to a midfield diamond, with two attackers ahead of them. Bellingham plays just behind the forwards, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
Such has been the success of the youngster, Gareth Southgate has utilised him in a similar advanced position for England.
Bellingham both scored and assisted in the 3-1 friendly victory over Scotland last month.
Despite his tender years, the former Birmingham prodigy is being trusted with a crucial role for both club and country.
After the win over Napoli, Ancelotti spoke about how the new signing is exceeding expectations.
He said: “What is surprising about Bellingham is that he is only 20. It feels like he’s 30.
“For his character, his personality. He is always focused on the match, he knows what he needs to do and this is rare in a 20-year-old player.
“Then you have all his quality, his physical strength, his skills. It is surprising, we are all a bit surprised.”
Ancelotti speaks for football fans around the world. We knew Bellingham was good but not quite this good.
https://x.com/OptaJoe/status/1709292790947954751?s=20
SOURCE: livescore.com
