Barcelona humiliated Real Madrid with a 4-0 thrashing of their El Clasico rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu – and the Spanish press have made their feelings clear on Jude Bellingham’s performance in the encounter.
Barcelona has extended its lead at the top of La Liga to six points over second-placed Real Madrid, after Real was thoroughly defeated by Hansi Flick’s team, conceding four goals in the second half.
Robert Lewandowski netted two goals within three minutes shortly after the break, giving Barcelona a two-goal lead, which was later increased by Lamine Yamal 13 minutes before the final whistle.
Raphinha capped off the rout with a fourth goal in the final minutes.
This loss marks Real’s first defeat of the La Liga season, leaving Barcelona six points ahead in the standings.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham played the entire match at the Bernabeu, experiencing his first loss against Barcelona since joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund for an initial fee of €103 million in the summer of 2023.
In his debut season with Real, Bellingham scored 23 goals in 42 matches across all competitions but has yet to find the net in 11 appearances this season.
The Spanish media are known for their blunt assessments of the El Clasico rivals, and Bellingham has come under scrutiny following Real’s defeat.
Marca highlighted the stark difference in Bellingham’s performance this season compared to last, describing him as a “shadow” of his former self. They attribute this decline to Carlo Ancelotti’s management and positioning of the player on the field.
Journalist Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa stated: “Bellingham is not the same player who impressed at the Bernabeu last season. The issue isn’t with him, but with how he is being utilized. He often plays in a position that doesn’t suit him, and despite his efforts, he isn’t making an impact. Being positioned near the right flank and at times as a full-back is a poor decision that Ancelotti needs to fix. The fact that a player who scored nearly twenty goals last year has yet to find the net this season is a concern that warrants serious attention.”