Bellingham’s Brilliance Guides Madrid to Emphatic Victory Over Villarreal

Jude Bellingham, the rising star of La Liga, showcased his brilliance once again as Real Madrid effortlessly secured a 4-1 victory over Villarreal on Sunday, propelling them to the top of the league standings.

Under the management of Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid now sits one point ahead of Girona, eagerly awaiting the outcome of Girona’s clash with Alaves on Monday, as they aim to maintain their newfound position.

Bellingham, currently Spain’s leading goal-scorer, opened the scoring for Madrid with his 13th league goal, and Rodrygo Goes extended their lead. Although Villarreal managed to pull one back through Jose Luis Morales, Brahim Diaz responded with a spectacular solo goal to reinstate Madrid’s advantage.

Luka Modric then sealed the victory with the fourth goal, as ecstatic Madrid fans celebrated a significant triumph in their last home match of the year.

The only setback for Ancelotti was an injury to defender David Alaba, who had to be substituted in the first half. Despite the absence of key players such as Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior, Eder Militao, and Eduardo Camavinga, Ancelotti’s strategic reliance on English international Bellingham in an attacking role is proving fruitful in nearly every match.

Bellingham, at just 20 years old, marked his 17th goal across all competitions in his 20th appearance this season, setting the tone for Madrid’s dominance after Barcelona, their rivals for the third spot, were held at Valencia the day before.

Playing at the renovated Santiago Bernabeu with the new roof closed for only the second time, Madrid took control early on against Villarreal. Despite Alaba’s injury and additional setbacks with Gerard Moreno, Alex Baena, and Ferland Mendy leaving the field injured, Madrid displayed resilience.

Rodrygo doubled the lead, Villarreal briefly pulled one back through Morales, but Brahim Diaz extinguished their hopes with a skillful solo effort. Modric’s fourth goal prompted ‘ole’ chants from the Madrid faithful as they witnessed their team confidently navigate the ball around a frustrated Villarreal.

In a largely satisfying night for Los Blancos, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni made a successful return from injury during the final stages of the match.