Jude Bellingham stars as Real Madrid avoid home upset with late winner

 Sunday 21 January 2024

La Liga EA Sports (Spanish Topflight League)

Real Madrid Vs UD Almería

Estadio Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Av. de Concha Espina, 1, Chamartín, 28036 Madrid, Spain

Jude Bellingham stars as Real Madrid avoid home upset with late winner

Dani Ceballos, Fran García, Joselu, Vini Jr, and Daniel Carvajal celebrated their narrow home win at FT.

 

MATCH PRVIEW:

This game was a chance for Real Madrid to continue their dominance in La Liga as they welcomed rock-bottom and winless Almería to the Bernabéu for a tasty encounter. Both teams had mixed results before this encounter. Real Madrid were knocked out of the Spanish Cup on Thursday as they lost to their cross-town rivals, Atlético Madrid by 4-2. Thanks to goals from Antoine Griezmann and Rodrigo Riquelme in extra time, the red side of Madrid progressed to the quarter finals. Whereas visitors Almería shared a goalless draw at home to 10-men and title contending Girona (CFG based team). Can Almería get their first win of the season, or will Real Madrid continue to extend their good run in the La Liga?

TEAM NEWS:

Carlo Ancelotti makes 3 changes from their Copa Del Rey round of 16 loss to Atlético Madrid, as Kepa returns in goal, with Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni the confirmed changes with Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Andriy Lunin dropping to the bench for the home side. Lucas Vazquez returns to the bench following a spell on the sidelines.

As for Almería, a host of changes for the visitors, and a formation change as well, with Kaiky coming in as part of the back 5, Ramazani and Marezi start in place of Embarba and Baptistao, with the number 12, forced to serve a suspension for accumulating 5 yellow cards.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Jude Bellingham: Despite a quiet game against Atlético Madrid, the Englishman is still the top scorer in the La Liga, which is unbelievable as a midfielder. Can he help Madrid return to winning ways in all competitions?

 

KICK-OFF:

We are underway in Madrid as the visitors kick-off. And straight away, GOAL FOR ALMERÍA!! A goal inside the opening minute for the visitors! The home fans are stunned by this, as Largie Ramazani puts the bottom club, 1-0 up at the Bernabéu!! UNBELIEVEABLE START THIS FOR ALMERÍA! It has taken them 38 seconds to score the first goal. The club’s fastest goal in the La Liga, and now, it is up to Real Madrid to answer to this early setback. Are they to find a way through this?

Largie Ramazani celebrates after putting his club 1-0 up against Real Madrid.

We know how good Real Madrid can be in finding answers, can they find a way into this game? And the red and whites continued to defend well and create chances for themselves, but Kepa was alert to take in any crosses that came to him. Even though the Los Blancos have more than ¾ of the ball, chances were very scarce in the first half and found it difficult to break down the Almería defence. And Real’s best chance came on 34 minutes. Following Carvajal’s cross inside the area, defender Chumi very nearly converted the Spaniard’s cross into his own net, but it the ball goes onto the roof. Almería escape a big scare! It has been all Almería in the first half, with the home fans going restless at their team’s sloppy first half performance. And on 43 minutes, Almería scored their second goal of the night. After Nacho gave the ball away to the visitors, Edgar González fired in a superb finish to put the visitors 2-0 up with 2 minutes until half-time. DREAMLAND FOR ALMERÍA! Will this be the day of upsets? 2-0 down are the hosts and nothing really for them to do!

Edgar González fired in a superb goal to put Almería 2 up at HT.

HALF-TIME AT THE SANTIAGO BERNABÉU. Can Almería hold on to get their first win of the 2023/2024 season, and their first win of the calendar year?

 

KICK-OFF: SECOND HALF

Real Madrid are in need of a lifeline as they kick-off the second half, in search of a way back into the game. Can they fight back or will Almería hold on to win? Before the start of the second half, Carlo Ancelotti has seen what has occurred, and throws in a triple substitution. Fran García, Brahim Díaz and Joselu all come onto the pitch to replace Ferland Mendy, Nacho Fernandez and Rodrygo. A big moment came on 55 minutes. A VAR check for a penalty to Real Madrid. From García’s free kick, Joselu’s flick on might’ve found a hand on the way even after Bellingham’s missed attempt.

Francisco José Hernández was asked to check for a penalty due to handball.

And the decision is: PENALTY TO REAL MADRID!! It was Kaiky who handled in the area after his hand touched Joselu’s header. VAR comes and overturns the decision in the favour of the home side. And the Los Blancos now have a chance to get back into the game. The opportunity lies on the shoulders of Jude Bellingham. The top scorer of the La Liga, can he extend his tally from the spot? It’s Bellingham, AND RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE WITH THAT PENALTY!! Very well taken and Real Madrid are back in the game. The 20-year-old now extends his tally to 14 league goals of the season. Real Madrid 1 – Almería 2. GAME ON IN MADRID!

Jude Bellingham converted from the spot to get Real back into the game

And 4 minutes later, Almería thought they got their 3^rd as Sergio Arribas turned in Ramazani’s cross. But, after a VAR check, correctly confirming that Lopy’s arm caught Bellingham during the build-up to the goal.

And 5 minutes later, Real Madrid thought they levelled the game. It was Aurelien Tchouaméni and Vinícius Júnior. Initially, the goal was chalked off due to handball, but after VAR check, the goal was then “controversially” given as the equaliser for Real Madrid. The 23-year-old Brazilian tried to head the ball into the net but came off his shoulder into the back of the net. Somehow, Real Madrid are level with 23 minutes to play.

Vinícius Júnior got Real's second goal, thanks to a VAR check.

 With substitutions limbering around for both teams, Real Madrid’s best chance came on 83 minutes. Jude Bellingham’s bicycle kick just goes wide of the post. That got the home crowd going.

Jude Bellingham’s bicycle kick was almost executed perfectly, but it was wide.

Now, with all the stoppages, VAR checks and treatments, there will be 11 minutes of added time. Just enough for both teams to try and get a winner. With cards out for players, and flying challenges, barring all of those, in the 9^th minute of added time, drama struck. THEY’VE DONE IT!! THEY’VE DONE IT!! REAL MADRID HAVE COMPLETED THE COMBACK! ABSOLUTELY EXTRODINARY!! DANI CARVAJAL THE HERO AT THE DEATH!!! He pokes in Jude Bellingham’s cross from close range and THE REUMNTADA is complete!!

Dani Carvajal celebrates his winner with Antonio Rüdiger, Fran García & Brahim.

And amidst all the celebrations, Carvajal is also booked for tearing his shirt whilst celebrating. But he doesn’t care, and neither do Real Madrid.

THAT IS THAT!! FULL-TIME AT THE BERNABÉU! REAL MADRID EXTEND THEIR WINNING STREAK IN LA LIGA, WHEREAS ALMERÍA REMAIN ROCK-BOTTOM OF THE LA LIGA WITH NO WINS, and it is their 15^th loss to go with their 6 draws!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JUDE BELLINGHAM

The Englishman was brilliant in the second half, despite a lacklustre first half from him and his team. He orchestrated the comeback for the team, by scoring from the spot and then assisting Carvajal’s winner by cutting inside and assisting the veteran full-back.