Bellingham concern ahead of season-defining Champions League game
The Englishman recently paid for his inactivity with a very lacklustre performance against Rayo.
If there’s one thing that feels strange about Bellingham, it’s seeing him in a lacklustre state. Against Rayo, he appeared subdued. It could be due to the disruption caused by three consecutive games between La Liga and the Champions League, interrupted by suspensions — one for the infamous “f*ck you/off” incident in Pamplona and another for an accumulation of yellow cards in Europe.
Or it might have just been a bad day at the office. But at the gates of the Champions League, Jude didn’t look very rock and roll. He wasn’t seen putting up a fight against the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper, Batalla. Not a single shot — something that hadn’t happened since December 22, in the 4-2 win against Sevilla. Just 26 passes, only eight of which were in the final third. For context, that’s the same number as Tchouaméni. He was disconnected, turned off.
Jude ended up leaving the pitch frustrated, substituted in the 85th minute with ice on his knee. Ancelotti later reassured fans about the injury, saying, “It’s a knock, nothing serious.” As for Bellingham’s slow performance, the coach once again took a protective stance under the Bernabéu, claiming, “he’s back in good condition, he played a good game.” Classic Carlo — shielding his player from criticism.
Ancelotti has his reasons. Bellingham has proven to be more than reliable in the Champions League. In his last five European appearances, the Englishman has delivered two assists and netted three crucial away goals (in Bergamo, against Brest, and at the Etihad).
But it’s not just his scoring that Ancelotti demands: he’s the first line of defence, especially given the lack of pressing from Mbappé and Vinícius. Against Rayo, it was clear it wasn’t Jude’s day — just three recoveries, far from the combative player who usually bites and creates chances near the opposition’s area. But the Madrid derby (Wednesday, 4pm ET) is a different dimension — one where Bellingham becomes a magnetic force. Madrid need him.
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