Jude Bellingham lived up to his billing on El Clasico debut, bagging a stunning brace including a 91st-minute winner to write an impossible Real Madrid comeback and sink a determined Barcelona who were better for most of the game.
It was a game with lots of aggression but few chances, especially in the first half, and both goals seemingly came from nowhere with Ilkay Gundogan picking the perfect time to score his first goal for the Catalan club.
He gave Xavi’s side the lead just six minutes in after Aurelien Tchouameni inadvertently sent the perfect through-ball into his own box, and the German beat a despairing David Alaba to fire home.
Missing Robert Lewandowski, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde from the starting XI, a tenacious Barcelona had plenty of chances in the first half with Fermin Lopez hitting the woodwork, but Bellingham made them pay for those missed opportunities with 20 minutes remaining.
Moments after Tchouameni had hit the woodwork from range, Bellingham received the ball outside the penalty area and hammered an out swinging shot under Marc-Andre Ter Stegen’s top hand to equalise.
And just when the game seemed destined for a draw, old and new combined with Luka Modric accidentally feeding Bellingham who fired home for victory from point-blank range.
