As Real Madrid faced a humiliating 4-0 defeat against arch-rivals Barcelona, the spotlight intensifies on Jude Bellingham’s disappointing performance. Despite the high expectations surrounding Bellingham, his recent form has left both fans and critics concerned. The English midfielder, who had a stellar start last season, has seen a drastic drop in his performance, highlighted by his subdued showing in the latest El Clasico.
The game was a tough watch for Madrid supporters as Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski led the charge with two quick goals early in the second half, while Lamine Yamal and Raphinha sealed a comprehensive victory. Despite having a constellation of stars, Real Madrid only managed four shots on target throughout the match, with Kylian Mbappe taking the lead on most attempts.
Amidst the collective underperformance, Bellingham’s struggles stood out. With just one shot in the entire game and continuing his goalless streak to eleven matches across all competitions, the concern over his form is mounting. Last year, he had scored ten goals in his first 11 LaLiga matches, a stark contrast to his current predicament where he failed to create any significant opportunities against Barcelona.
Statmuse reported that Bellingham had minimal impact with only four touches in the opposition box and a total of 13 completed passes, marking his lowest passing tally of the season. However, Marca journalist Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa suggests that Bellingham is not entirely at fault. Garcia-Ochoa criticizes Carlo Ancelotti for mismanaging Bellingham’s talent by playing him out of his natural position as a right midfielder, which is not where he shines.
The ongoing experiment of positioning Bellingham on the right, as Ancelotti previously hinted, was supposed to offer him more space for deep runs. However, this shift has not paid dividends, especially with the additional responsibility on the right due to Rodrygo’s injury.
As Real Madrid and Ancelotti navigate through this challenging period, they must reassess Bellingham’s role and possibly revert to strategies that amplify his strengths, rather than diminish them. The situation calls for a critical analysis of the tactical decisions that have led to such underwhelming performances from a player who was once a beacon of hope and excitement at Bernabeu.
