Bellingham and Madrid Seek Redemption After Recent Struggles

Following a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League last week, Real Madrid’s offense struggled once more, resulting in a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano.

Despite a few scoring chances, including missed opportunities from Arda Guler and Raul Asencio, the star-studded attack was tightly marked and ultimately failed to capitalize on potential goals.

The disappointing draw at Vallecano, combined with Barcelona’s decisive 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo—highlighted by Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick—narrowed Los Blancos’ lead at the top of the table to just three points behind their arch-rivals.

In light of these challenges, England international Jude Bellingham took to Instagram to share an encouraging message with his teammates. He stated: “Always difficult in Vallecas but we take the point and move forward. We have to stick together and prepare for another tough spell of games coming after the break. Hala Madrid.”

Bellingham is back in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Serbia and Albania, having missed the last two international breaks due to injury. Tuchel expressed his delight in welcoming back Bellingham and Manchester City’s Phil Foden, noting their significant contributions to their respective clubs. He remarked, “Big names, big personalities, big, big talents. It was a no-brainer. We will have central roles for both of them to bring out the very best.”

Despite a recent dip in form, Bellingham continues to receive strong support from Madrid’s head coach, Xabi Alonso. Following the loss at Anfield, Alonso praised Bellingham’s performance, stating: “He’s had three very good games. He’s done better than we expected after the last break. Jude is all about feeling, communicating, and connecting.”

Bellingham is committed to achieving success with Real Madrid after a disappointing 2024-25 season. In an interview with CBS Sports, he acknowledged the mixed perceptions of the past season but emphasized his resolve to improve, stating, “There were still good moments, but not the level I want to play at. Now I’ve had my shoulder surgery, a new manager [Xabi Alonso], and he’s got that shape, how we want to play. You have to learn from it.”