A brace from Jude Bellingham gave <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> a memorable Clasico victory on Saturday afternoon.



Despite going a goal behind early on, Los Blancos rescued a 2-1 win in the first Clasico of the season.



Ilkay Gundogan opened his account for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a>, before Bellingham’s two strikes stole all three points for the visitors.



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Barcelona came into this game with several injury concerns. While Pedri and Frenkie de Jong were sidelined, striker Robert Lewandowski was only deemed fit to start from the bench. 



Xavi opted to play Ferran Torres in the number nine role. Ilkay Gundogan, Joao Cancelo, and Gavi stationed in midfield while Joao Cancelo was deployed as a right winger.



Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat Braga in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/champions-league-tv-schedule/">Champions League</a> and Los Blancos started Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo. Meanwhile Jude Bellingham played just in behind the front two. Toni Kroos, Aurélien Tchouameni, and Fede Valverde played in midfield for the visitors.



<h2>Barcelona outplayed Real Madrid and Bellingham in the first-half of the Clasico</h2>



Barcelona started the game better of the two sides and took the lead in the 6th minute. It was Gundogan who played a quick one-two with Ferran Torres. He then took advantage of a mix-up between Tchouameni and David Alaba.



He then side-footed his effort past Kepa Arrizabalaga to give his side the opening goal. The Germa, has now scored in the Manchester derby, the Der Klassiker, and the Clasico, a unique distinction.



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The hosts dominated proceedings with their quick passing and maintaining possession in closed spaces keeping Madrid at bay. Fermin Lopez came close to doubling his side’s lead in the 16th minute.



However, his strike hit the post as Real survived the onslaught. Ancelotti’s side looked pedestrian for most of the first half. Vinicius and Bellingham struggled to make any sort of impact.



The visitors, however, showed much desire at the beginning of the second half playing with more intent, and were once again lucky not to have fallen two goals behind in the 52nd minute. 



Inigo Martinez struck the post with a diving header following Gundogan’s corner before Ronald Araujo’s rebound was kept out by Kepa. 



Cancelo also came close to extending his side’s lead but Camavinga blocked his shot.



<h2>Real Madrid vastly improved in the second-half</h2>



Marc-Andre ter Stegen brilliantly stopped Tchouameni’s long-range effort in the 67th minute, but just seconds later was beaten by a ferocious Bellingham strike from 25 yards, that hit the top-left corner. It was the Englishman’s 12th goal in 13 games for the Los Blancos.



Barcelona made several changes in the final fifteen minutes to get the winning goal, but the visitors were in the ascendancy as they dominated in the proceedings. 



Gavi and then substitute Lewandowski did come close for the hosts while Joselu almost snatched it for the visitors deep in stoppage time. Madrid did steal the three points in the 92nd minute when it was Bellingham who scored from close range.



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The Blaugrana would feel hard done by the result and would regret missing their chances when they were 1-0 ahead, while Madrid courtesy of the win, moved to the top of the <a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/table/_/league/esp.1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LaLiga table</a> on goal difference. This placed them ahead of Girona with 28 points, four points clear of Barcelona.



Photo credit: IMAGO / PanoramiC

Bellingham brace helps Madrid grab El Clasico comeback win

Real Madrid won the first Clasico of the season thanks to a magical brace from Jude Bellingham in his debut Clasico

Following two defeats in all competitions, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelon</a>a picked up a massive win at <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-madrid-tv-schedule/">Real Madrid</a> in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-del-rey-tv-schedule/">Copa del Rey</a> first leg. The 1-0 win carries over into the second leg in around a month’s time at Camp Nou.



Entering the game, the two heated rivals were on contrasting form. Real Madrid, fresh off a draw against Atletico Madrid in the league, defeated Liverpool at Anfield with five goals against the hosts. On the other hand, Barcelona lost for the fifth and sixth times this season in all competitions in a four day span. A usually resolute defense allowed two goals at Manchester United before a 1-0 loss at Almeria, which entered that weekend fixture in the relegation zone.



It was a flip in this game. Real Madrid, buoyed by the return of Rodrygo, looked lifeless in the attack. It was a credit to Barcelona’s defense, arguably the best in Europe this season, at least in league play. However, given the injuries Barcelona is dealing with it is a surprising result for the third Clasico of the season.



The difference was an own goal, a fitting tribute given that Barcelona played without its its three top scorers on the season, Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele and Pedri. All three missed the match with injuries, but could be back for the other two Clasico fixtures later this season.



<h5>Both teams score, only one counts</h5>



Real Madrid was the first team to put the ball in the back of the net. Karim Benzema, the club’s top scorer this season, took down a cross and slotted past Marc André Ter Stegen. However, the forward was clearly offside, and Barcelona kept the game scoreless.



Not long after, Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga got caught in possession by a pressing Barcelona midfield. Ferran Torres took on the loose ball and played through Franck Kessié. Even though Thibaut Courtois saved the initial attempt, the rebound clanked off a retreating Eder Militao and past a helpless Nacho Fernandez. Eder Militao took on the unfortunate designation of an own goal in El Clasico.



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<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">FRANK KESSIE OPENS THE SCORING FOR BARCELONA! 😮 <a href="https://t.co/sdDyDtXg0J">pic.twitter.com/sdDyDtXg0J</a>— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1631391277156794368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Initially, the assistant referee flagged the play for offside. However, the heel of Ferland Mendy kept Kessié onside. The goal stood and proved to be the difference.



<h2>Barcelona defense holds Real Madrid in Copa del Rey</h2>



The talking point of this game, though, was the stalwart effort from Barcelona’s defense. Ronaldo Araujo shut down Vinicius Junior on Real Madrid’s left side. Karim Benzema was isolated away from making any kind of impact between Jules Koundé and Marcos Alonso. The size of Barcelona at the back did well to defend against crosses.



Remarkably, Real Madrid took 13 shots. None of those tested Ter Stegen in goal. Of course, the German goalkeeper did things right. Strong in the air and decisive on the ground. Real Madrid out-possessed Barcelona. The hosts out-passed Barcelona. The difference was an inability to test Ter Stegen.



Barcelona should have had two goals, in fact. Ferran Torres made a strong run down the right side before cutting the ball back to Kessié. However, the Ivorian’s shot on target, which was going to beat Courtois, <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1631407457129099264" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bounced off Ansu Fati</a> on the goal line and went wide. 



There is a chance that opportunity comes back to haunt Barcelona. This was the first of the three contests to feature less than four goals. Therefore, both these teams are capable of scoring. That is what Real Madrid will have to do at Camp Nou on April 5 on <a href="https://go.web.plus.espn.com/mWebq" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ESPN+</a>.



PHOTO: IMAGO / Pressinphoto

Barcelona bounced back from two defeats to win at the Bernabeu to take a one-goal lead into the Copa del Rey second leg against Real Madrid.

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