Scored a double in the 4-0 win over Osasuna on October 7, midfielder Jude Bellingham became the Real player to score the most goals through the first eight matches in La Liga.
Minute 9, from Luka Modric’s pass, Dani Carvajal scored a touch for Bellingham. The midfielder wearing shirt number 5 led two times and then finished close range and hit the roof of the net for the away team. At the beginning of the second half, Bellingham bounced off the wall with Federico Valverde, entered the penalty area and finished through the legs of goalkeeper Sergio Herrera, completing the double.
These were the seventh and eighth goals respectively, helping Bellingham become the Real player to score the most goals through the first eight matches in La Liga, surpassing Ronaldo’s seven-goal achievement in December 2009. Before scoring a double against Osasuna, the English midfielder scored a goal against Girona, Getafe, Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao and a double against Almeria.
Bellingham celebrates his second win against Osasuna in La Liga. Photo: Reuters
Bellingham also scored two goals in the Champions League against Napoli and Union Berlin. In total, the English midfielder scored 10 goals in 10 matches in all competitions since the beginning of the season, equal to Ronaldo’s achievement in 2009. But Bellingham had three assists, while the Portuguese superstar only had one assist in ten matches. First playing for Real.
Among Real’s rookies this summer, Bellingham – whose transfer fee was 110 million USD from Dortmund – is the most expected. Last season, the English midfielder contributed 14 goals and seven assists for Dortmund and was voted Best Player in the Bundesliga. Eight goals and the number one position in the La Liga scoring race, helping Real lead both La Liga and the Champions League, show that Bellingham deserves that expectation.
On social networks, Real compared Bellingham to famous English playwright William Shakespeare. “The English people wrote love stories,” the Bernabeu stadium owner posted, mentioning the names Shakespeare and Bellingham.
Bellingham rejoiced with his teammates after opening the score for Real. Photo: Reuters
Yesterday, after Bellingham’s double, Vinicius increased the score to 3-0 in the 65th minute, accelerating into the penalty area, passing Herrera and putting the ball into the empty net. The goal party at the Bernabeu ended in the 70th minute, when Vinicius assisted Joselu to shoot cross-angle, sealing the 4-0 victory. Joselu is Real’s third Spanish player to reach five goals in the first nine rounds of La Liga in the 21st century, after Raul González and Javier Portillo.
With this result, Real continues to lead with 24 points, two points ahead of Girona and four points ahead of Barca. After a two-week break to make room for the national team, Real will visit Sevilla on October 21, where they will meet former captain and midfielder Sergio Ramos.
Squad
Real : Kepa, Carvajal (Vazquez 79), Tchouameni, Rudiger, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga (Kroos 67), Modric (Diaz 79), Bellingham (Ceballos 72), Joselu, Vinicius (Rodrygo 72).
Osasuna : Herrera, Cruz, Garcia (Arnaiz 70), Catena, Pena (Barja 80), Oroz (Garcia 80), Torro, Moncayola (Ibanez 80), Areso, Budimir (Avila 70), D. Garcia.