Real Madrid would be nine points worse off without Jude Bellingham’s goals this season
Jude Bellingham scored an injury-time tap-in as Real Madrid left it late to beat Champions League debutants Union Berlin at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Bellingham’s strike was his sixth goal in six matches for Madrid since joining Los Blancos this summer.
Federico Valverde’s 94th-minute strike deflected into the path of the England midfield who tapped into an empty net.
Union, in their first Champions League match, were unable to respond with just one minute remaining.
Bellingham once again Real’s star
Carlo Ancelotti chose to play Jude Bellingham in a more advanced number 10 role, and the former Borussia Dortmund and Birmingham City star once again excelled.
He was integral to the Spanish La Liga side’s creativity in attack as they racked up 22 shots to their opponent’s three.
And, for the third time already in his Real career, the 20-year-old netted a winner for Los Blancos inside the final 10 minutes.
Indeed, without Bellingham’s goals Real Madrid would be nine points worse off just six matches into the season.
Union Berlin a minute away from famous draw
While Real Madrid were lifting the 2017-18 Champions League title, Union Berlin were still in the second tier of German football
Real Madrid were deserved winners, having twice hit the post in the second half, although Union looked set for a fairytale draw at the home of the record 14-time winners.
The hosts, semi-finalists in last season’s competition, started brightly as Joselu headed Bellingham’s teasing cross over the bar.
But Ancelotti’s side failed to kick on in the first period, although they themselves were rarely threatened by the visitors.
In the second half, Real were a team transformed as Lucas Vazquez crossed for Rodrygo who struck the outside of the post in the 51st minute with an acrobatic effort.
Nine minutes later, Union keeper Frederik Ronnow tipped Joselu’s header on to the woodwork.
Ronnow also made a series of fine saves to keep out Rodrygo and Luka Modric, while Joselu poked a late volley narrowly wide.
But, in the final minute of injury time, Union Berlin failed to deal with a short corner and Valverde’s hopeful shot ricocheted into the path of Bellingham, who rolled the ball in from two yards out.
Union, who five years ago were playing in the second tier of German football, will hope to bounce back when they host Sporting Braga in their next Champions League Group C match in 13 days’ time.
Real Madrid travel to face Napoli on the same day.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-1-2
25Arrizabalaga Revolt
17 Vázquez 22 Rüdiger 6 Nacho 4 Alaba
10Modric18Tchouaméni5Bellingham
12Camavinga
14Joselu11Rodrygo
25Arrizabalaga Revuelta17Vázquez22Rüdiger6NachoSubstituted forGarcía Torresat 73’minutes4Alaba10ModricSubstituted forDíazat 81’minutes18TchouaméniBooked at 37minsSubstituted forValverdeat 66’minutes5Bellingham12CamavingaSubstituted forKroosat 66’minutes14Joselu11RodrygoSubstitutes8Kroos13Lunin15Valverde19Ceballos20García Torres21Díaz23Mendy31Cañizares33García36Tobias da Silva
Union Berlin
Formation 3-5-2
1Rønnow
5Doekhi23Bonucci4Monteiro Pinto Leite
18Juranovic33Král29Tousart20Laïdouni6Gosens
27Becker17Behrens
1Rønnow5Doekhi23BonucciSubstituted forJaeckelat 80’minutes4Monteiro Pinto Leite18Juranovic33Král29TousartBooked at 1minsSubstituted forKemleinat 83’minutes20LaïdouniSubstituted forAaronsonat 66’minutes6Gosens27BeckerSubstituted forFofanaat 80’minutes17BehrensSubstituted forVollandat 66 ‘minutesSubstitutes3Jaeckel7Aaronson10Volland11Fofana26Roussillon28Trimmel36Kemlein37Schwolow39Stein
Referee: Espen Eskås
Attendance:65,207
Live Text
Match ends, Real Madrid 1, 1. FC Union Berlin 0.
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 1, 1. FC Union Berlin 0.
Goal! Real Madrid 1, 1. FC Union Berlin 0. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Paul Jaeckel.
Attempt blocked. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Toni Kroos.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Alex Král (1. FC Union Berlin).
Offside, Real Madrid. Toni Kroos tries a through ball, but Brahim Díaz is caught offside.
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Diogo Leite (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).
Josip Juranovic (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Rodrygo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Brahim Díaz.
Foul by Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).
Frederik Rønnow (1. FC Union Berlin) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Aljoscha Kemlein (1. FC Union Berlin).
Substitution, 1. FC Union Berlin. Aljoscha Kemlein replaces Lucas Tousart.
Attempt missed. Joselu (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jude Bellingham.
2023-09-20 19:08:19
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