Brilliant Bellingham Helps Madrid Take Down Man United in Friendly | Watch Highlights
Houston witnessed an exciting pre-season clash between Spanish giants Real Madrid and English heavyweights Manchester United, with Real Madrid securing a convincing 2-0 victory on Wednesday.
The star of the night was Real Madrid’s new English midfielder, Jude Bellingham, who recently completed a high-profile move from Borussia Dortmund in a staggering $114 million transfer in June. Bellingham wasted no time in making an impact as he found the back of the net with a breathtaking finish just six minutes into the game.
Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger orchestrated the opening goal, delivering a perfectly weighted ball that sent Bellingham charging toward the goal. The 20-year-old displayed remarkable composure, taking a precise touch to control the ball before executing a delicate chip over Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana, to give Madrid a well-deserved lead.
Shortly after Bellingham’s opener, Brazilian international Vinicius Jr. had a golden opportunity to double Madrid’s lead but squandered his shot from close range, sparing United from further damage.
Manchester United, however, fought back, and in the 36th minute, Marcus Rashford nearly levelled the score, but his effort narrowly missed the target from a difficult angle.
As Real Madrid maintained control of the match, United’s frustration surfaced just before halftime when Lisandro Martinez unleashed a wild challenge on Bellingham, leading to an altercation. Martinez received a booking for the incident.
After a flurry of changes during halftime, Manchester United showed improvements in the second half. However, it was Real Madrid who continued to create the better chances, with Militao coming agonizingly close to making it 2-0 in the 69th minute, only to see his shot cleared off the line.
With the game hanging in the balance, Real Madrid sealed the victory in the 89th minute with a moment of brilliance. Lucas Vazquez delivered a precise cross, setting up veteran forward Joselu, who executed a spectacular overhead kick, igniting the NRG Stadium with a stunning goal to secure a 2-0 victory for Real Madrid.
The match served as an intriguing preview of what both teams have to offer in the upcoming season, and Bellingham’s exceptional performance showcased his immense talent and potential impact for Real Madrid. As the pre-season progresses, fans eagerly await more exciting encounters on the football pitch.
Watch the highlights below.
