The wait is finally over for Jude Bellingham as he scored his first goal for Real Madrid this season.
Bellingham, who scored five goals in his first four LaLiga games for Los Blancos last term, had been uncharacteristically goal shy to start the 2024/25 campaign.
But he broke his goal drought that had lasted 12 games and 179 days in sensational fashion.
Centre-back Raul Asencio spotted Bellingham’s run and played a perfect ball from inside his own half that dropped perfectly in the path of the England international.
With Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera caught in no man’s land, Bellingham lofted the ball over him and into the back of the net.
The England international was evidently relieved to have scored as he gave Madrid a two-goal buffer, having earlier provided the assist for Vinicius Junior‘s opening strike.
As Bellingham wheeled away to celebrate, Real Madrid’s stars rushed over to Asencio to congratulate him on the perfect assist.
The 21-year-old had entered the contest 12 minutes earlier after Eder Militao was stretchered off with a serious-looking knee injury.
Up until his substitute appearance, Asencio had only played for Real Madrid Castilla, the Spanish heavyweights’ second team.
Asencio’s assist also made him the third-youngest Spanish defender to provide an assist for Real Madrid in the last 11 years.
Despite Bellingham’s lengthy goal drought finally ending, the headlines will belong to Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian winger scored a hat-trick as he issued the perfect response in his first LaLiga game since the Ballon d’Or.
Vinicius was controversially snubbed for football’s most prestigious individual award in favour of Manchester City midfielder Rodri.
Somehow, Vinicius caught wind of the Ballon d’Or defeat early and Real Madrid’s entire delegation that was bound for the awards in Paris opted to stay in the Spanish capital.
The Ballon d’Or results later revealed Vinicius missed out on the gong by just 41 points while Bellingham came third in the rankings.
However, Bellingham has work to do if he is to replicate the form that made him the third-best player in the world
The 21-year-old hit the ground running following his £88.5million move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid in June last year as he scored 23 goals and registered 13 assists across all competitions.
Bellingham’s sensational form inspired Madrid to LaLiga and Champions League triumphs, although the club has work to do if they are to continue that success this season.
Ancelotti’s side sit second in LaLiga behind Barcelona and are 18th in the new-look Champions League having won two and lost two from their four games.
