El Clasico

Jude Bellingham Inspires Real Madrid to 11-Point La Liga Lead Over Barcelona

Bellingham's Late Goal Seals El Clasico Win

Real Madrid extended their commanding lead atop the La Liga standings on Sunday, securing an 11-point cushion over arch-rivals Barcelona with a hard-fought victory in El Clasico.

Jude Bellingham emerged as the hero for the hosts, scoring a crucial late goal to hand Real Madrid a 2-1 triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Barcelona had taken an early lead through Ronald Araujo, but Karim Benzema equalized before the break. The match remained evenly poised until Bellingham's decisive strike in the final minutes, sending the Madrid faithful into raptures.

The win marked Real Madrid's first El Clasico victory since March 2020, and it propelled them to 63 points after 23 games played. Barcelona, meanwhile, slipped to second place with 52 points. The result also strengthened Real Madrid's position as the favorites for the La Liga title, with just 15 games remaining in the season.

Bellingham, who has been in scintillating form for Real Madrid this season, was a constant threat to the Barcelona defense. The 19-year-old midfielder scored his eighth goal of the campaign and played a pivotal role in creating numerous scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Barcelona gave a valiant effort but ultimately fell short due to a combination of poor defending and missed chances. Robert Lewandowski had a particularly frustrating night, failing to convert several clear-cut opportunities that could have changed the course of the match.

El Clasico remains one of the most anticipated fixtures in world football, and this latest edition lived up to the hype. The intensity, drama, and quality on display were a testament to the enduring rivalry between these two legendary clubs.