Late Bellingham Goal Pushes Madrid Closer to League Title After ‘Clasico’ Win

Real Madrid took a significant step towards winning the Spanish league with a late goal by Jude Bellingham securing a crucial victory over Barcelona in the final “clasico” of the season.

Despite Barcelona taking the lead twice, Real Madrid staged a comeback to win 3-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, giving them an 11-point lead over their second-place rival with six rounds remaining.

Bellingham’s stoppage-time winner, scored from a difficult angle, proved decisive, ensuring Madrid’s comfortable lead in the title race. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti praised the 20-year-old midfielder’s crucial goal, highlighting its potential impact on their league campaign.

This victory marks Madrid’s third consecutive win over Barcelona this season, extending their unbeaten league run to 26 games since September.

The match came shortly after Madrid’s Champions League triumph over Manchester City, while Barcelona’s European hopes were dashed by Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the league as their only remaining title opportunity.

Despite Barcelona’s early lead, Madrid fought back with goals from Vinícius Júnior and Lucas Vázquez, who also provided the assist for Bellingham’s winner.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández expressed frustration with refereeing decisions but acknowledged Madrid’s strong performance, conceding that the league title was slipping away from his team.

Injury concerns added to Barcelona’s woes, with midfielder Frenkie De Jong stretchered off in the first half.

The match also marked the debut of the new state-of-the-art 360-degree video scoreboard at the Bernabeu, attracting attention from sports and entertainment figures like Novak Djokovic, Tom Brady, and Andy Garcia.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid suffered a setback with a 2-0 loss to Alaves, jeopardizing their fourth-place position in the league standings and their Champions League aspirations for next season.

Alaves secured victory with goals from Carlos Benavídez and Luis Rioja, ending their three-match losing streak and denting Atletico’s hopes of securing a top-four finish.

In other matches, Real Sociedad drew 1-1 with Getafe, while Villarreal defeated Almeria 2-1, further intensifying the battle for European spots and relegation survival in La Liga.