Jude Bellingham sends three-word message to Barcelona after fiery Clasico victory

Jude Bellingham scored the winner as Real Madrid beat Barcelona on Sunday but tempers flared in the Spanish capital with a late melee following a red card for the visitors

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham sent Barcelona a simple message after helping down his team’s fierce rivals in El Clasico on Sunday. “Talk is cheap,” the England star wrote on social media, adding “Hala Madrid siempre” to emphasise his eternal pride in Los Blancos.

Bellingham set up Kylian Mbappe’s opener for Madrid at the Bernabeu, and scored his team’s second after Fermin Lopez had briefly brought Barca level. The hosts missed a huge chance to extend their lead, with Mbappe’s penalty saved by Wojciech Szczesny, but it didn’t make a difference to the result.

Things got heated at the end of the game, with both teams seeing players sent off. Pedri saw red for a second booking deep into added time, while Madrid’s substitute keeper Andriy Lunin also saw red after players from both sides clashed.

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Bellingham’s winner sent Madrid five points clear of Barca after just 10 league matches. Their only defeat in any competition this term came against Atletico Madrid, who handed their neighbours a 5-2 humbling in September.

The defeat was Barca’s second in their last three league games, following a 4-1 reverse at Sevilla. They were also beaten at home by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and will know there isn’t much margin for error as they look to put this latest loss behind them.

“In the first half, we were really decisive with the ball. Every time we had possession, it ended with a good shot or something positive,” Bellingham said after the 2-1 victory.

“In the second half, it was more defensive work. [Eder] Militão, [Dean] Huijsen, [Alvaro] Carreras and [Dani] Carvajal when he came on were very good. But it was a magnificent performance from the whole team.”

On his winner, he added: “These are my favourite goals. A lot of people say it’s luck, but for me it’s how I understand the game. When the ball goes here or there, position changes everything and I’m always ready if it comes to me. Militão got his head to it and then I was there to score.”

Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal had a more challenging day, but coach Marcus Sorg – who deputised for suspended manager Hansi Flick – stood up for the teenager.

“It wasn’t an easy game for Lamine. He was very well marked; we tried everything, but sometimes the defence does a good job,” Sorg said.

“We also have to understand that he’s coming back from injury and is only 18 years old. If they defend him well, that can happen, but we know his potential.”

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