La Liga Roundup: Bellingham scores in Real Madrid debut against Athletic Bilbao
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Jude Bellingham loved a dream debut for Real Madrid after the England midfielder scored his group’s second aim in a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao of their Spanish league opener on Saturday.
Wearing the No. 5 of Madrid nice Zinedine Zidane, Bellingham began the match whereas Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, the veterans he’s tapped to take over from, watched from the bench at San Mames Stadium.
His aim was not a piece of magnificence like so many crafted by Zidane, and he maybe had a bit of fine fortune to information it into the online. A left-side nook kick by David Alaba discovered Bellingham unmarked within the space, the place he knocked the ball with one contact down onto the turf, just for it to bounce excessive and sail into the online over Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón.
The 20-year-old Bellingham jogged to the endline and raised his arms to absorb the applause from the part of Madrid followers within the in any other case red-and-white stands.
“First game, first victory, first goal. Hala Madrid!” Bellingham stated in Spanish in a message posted on Madrid’s Twitter account after the sport.
His aim doubled Madrid’s lead within the thirty sixth after Rodrygo had put Madrid forward eight minutes earlier.
Bellingham, who joined Madrid on a 130-million-euro ($142 million) transfer from Borussia Dortmund this summer season, did present some Zidane-like aptitude when he made a swish slalom to elude three defenders as he raced down the sector and into Bilbao’s space within the second half.
“Bellingham is one of a kind,” stated Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “He is motivated to play here. He is fantastic, with a great personality, he is hard working. He is a very important signing.”
Rodrygo, and fellow Brazilian Vinícius Júnior, will doubtless want all the additional objectives that Bellingham and Madrid’s midfield can present. The 14-time European Cup winners haven’t signed a world-class striker to switch Karim Benzema since his transfer to Saudi Arabia, as Madrid seems to be as soon as once more hoping it could lure Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain.
Rodrygo bought his aim when he rifled a low strike underneath Simón after he had labored a one-two mixture with Dani Carvajal and bounced off defender Íñigo Lekue, who appeared extra nervous about not committing a penalty than impeding his progress.
Vinícius went near including a second after he spun round his marker, slipped previous Bilbao’s final man, just for Simón to avoid wasting his effort – earlier than Bellingham did the honors of doubling the benefit.
Andriy Lunin was in aim for Madrid. A not often used backup for the previous three years, the Ukrainian keeper is now Madrid’s starter after Thibaut Courtois tore a left-knee ligament this week. Madrid’s protection saved Lunin from being critically examined by Bilbao. Alaba and Aurélien Tchouaméni each bought low to dam pictures by Oihan Sancet and Álex Berenguer when Bilbao mustered its greatest minutes late within the second half.
Madrid’s gamers wore T-shirts saying “Lots of strength, Tibo” earlier than kickoff to indicate their help for Courtois.
MILITAO INJURY
Madrid could have misplaced heart again Éder Militão to harm as effectively. The Brazil defender went down in ache simply after halftime when his left knee appeared to twist awkwardly. He was helped to stroll off by two group docs.
“Militão has twisted his knee and it does not look good,” Ancelotti stated. “We will evaluate it in the next hours… We are worried. Nothing can be ruled out.”
Striker Joselu and left again Fran García additionally debuted for Madrid.
Bilbao defender Óscar de Marcos, 34, made his five hundredth look for his membership.
“They were better than us,” stated Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde. “We had trouble getting out on attack. We couldn’t break their pressure and lost possession far too often. That stopped us from responding.”
UKRAINE CONNECTION
Artem Dovbyk headed in a brief cross from fellow Ukrainian Viktor Tsygankov to offer Girona a 1-1 draw at Real Sociedad.
Dovbyk arrived on the Catalan membership this summer season and wanted simply eight minutes to get his first aim, canceling out Take Kubo’s fifth-minute opener for the hosts.
Sociedad completed fourth final season, incomes a Champions League berth. However, it acquired a blow not too long ago when veteran midfielder David Silva injured his knee and introduced his retirement.
Nigeria ahead Umar Sadiq made his first look since he suffered a severe leg harm early final season simply after arriving at Sociedad as its star signing.
Also, Mallorca rallied for a 1-1 draw at promoted Las Palmas.
