BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Real Madrid wasn’t meant to be so smart after squandering its most level-headed goalscorer this summer and being decimated by injuries.
But Jude Bellingham arrived and the England midfielder kept Madrid to compete for titles this season.
Madrid is leading the Spanish league and is the only team other than Manchester City to have won all five of its games in the Champions League.
The key to the ongoing success of the 14-time European Cup winners can be boiled down to the depth and overall talent of its squad, and the incredible impact that Bellingham has made since arriving from Borussia Dortmund.
Bellingham led Madrid to another commanding victory on Wednesday when he scored his team-high 15th goal of the season to help beat Napoli 4-2 and remain perfect in the Champions League group stage.
Madrid also leads the title race in Spain, where it points out the most sensitive issues with Girona ahead of relegation-threatened Granada, which hosts Granada on Saturday.
“He’s a glorious signing,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said of Bellingham on Wednesday, before digging deeper to locate an alleged flaw in his new star. “He wishes him his Spanish, because, like I said, nobody’s perfect. “
Madrid lost the pillars of its attack and defense when Karim Benzema, its top scorer for the five previous seasons, was lured with other European players to Saudi Arabia in June and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois tore a knee ligament just before the season kicked off in August.
Then came other season-threatening injuries. Éder Militão, the team’s centre-back, tore his ACL in the season opener, and Eduardo Camavinga, Madrid’s most flexible midfielder, tore a knee ligament while training with France this month. .
Vinícius Júnior also went down during the most recent international break when he tore a leg muscle with Brazil, an injury that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the year.
Toss in minor injuries to Kepa Arrizabalaga, who came in to replace Courtois, veteran leader Luka Modric, and starting holding midfielder Aurelien Tchouaméni, and it seems Madrid should have struggled against Serie A champion Napoli.
Instead, they toppled the Italian club, like most of their rivals this campaign. His loss this season came against Atlético Madrid in the national league in September.
Bellingham leads the Spanish league with goals, two more than Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann.
Madrid have also recently gained a boost from Rodrygo. The Brazilian striker is on a run of four consecutive goals, of which he has scored six while filling the void left by his injured compatriot Vinícius.
“We’re all betting well. We scored a lot of goals and we also protected well. I think we’re in our moment,” Rodrygo said after scoring in the win over Napoli.
Rodrygo finished Wednesday’s game with cramps but he said he should be fine for the game against 19th-placed Granada.
Ancelotti said that he hopes to have Modric back for a visit to Real Betis the following round.
“We can’t get anyone back for Granada, but I think Modrić will play against Betis,” he said. “With those players we will prepare for the game against Granada. “
FIGHT FOR THE THIRD
Barcelona hosts Atletico on Sunday with third place up for grabs and the loser in danger of falling in the race for the name.
The two are level on four points between Madrid and Girona, who host Valencia on Saturday.
Atlético has one less game to play.
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