The England midfielder looked every bit the best in the world while some of the other contenders for the Golden Ball crashed out of Europe
Jude Bellingham looks like he’s been a Real Madrid player for years. From the way he carries himself on the pitch to kissing the badge and shouting to supporters in Spanish, the summer signing has absolutely embedded himself among the Madridistas. On Wednesday, though, his credentials were tested even further, as Bellingham was tasked with playing a crucial part in a signature Champions League performance for the 14-time European champions.
Unsurprisingly, he passed with flying colours, turning in a tireless showing before burying his penalty in the shootout, which in turn led to him screaming with the Madrid faithful as Los Blancos beat Manchester City on spot-kicks to advance to yet another Champions League semi-final.
Rodrygo had given the visitors an early lead, as a swift counter-attack bypassed Man City’s high line. Bellingham started it with a fine touch on the halfway line, and four passes later, the ball was in the net – the Etihad stunned.
City offered something of a response, as Erling Haaland hit the crossbar while Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish both had efforts saved by Andriy Lunin as the first half wore on. After the break, Haaland almost forced Nacho to turn the ball into his own net, while Phil Foden mishit a golden chance with Lunin sprawling.
De Bruyne did eventually find the equaliser, the Belgian lashing the ball into the roof of the net after a botched clearance from Antonio Rudiger, and he should have killed the tie soon after, but blasted over despite being in acres of space in the box.
Pep Guardiola’s substitution of Haaland before extra-time changed the game, and City struggled to break down a dogged Madrid defence thereafter, leading to the shootout drama. Luka Modric missed Madrid’s first spot-kick, but every other Blancos player scored, while Lunin made two vital stops to send his team through.
For Bellingham, European glory, and the individual awards that could follow such a run, have never seemed closer.
GOAL breaks down the winners & losers from the Etihad Stadium…
WINNER: Andriy Lunin
Two years ago, in the Champions League final, Madrid relied on a memorable goalkeeping performance to bring home their 14th European title. On that night, it was Thibaut Courtois’ fine saves that helped them beat Liverpool and lift the trophy. Here, they needed another big showing between the sticks, but with Courtois out injured, it was left to his back-up to play hero.
Lunin has proven an able deputy for long stretches of this season, but this was his signature showing. He made some important stops in the first half, and was brave coming for the barrage of crosses that fell in his six-yard box.
In the shootout, though, was where he truly made his mark. He saved two spot-kicks, catching Bernardo Silva’s flimsy Panenka attempt, before diving low to his right to deny Mateo Kovacic. He may not be first choice – and he certainly won’t compete with Courtois when he returns to full fitness next year – but Lunin has now etched himself into Madrid folklore with a fine showing.
LOSER: Erling Haaland
Another big match, another game where Haaland failed to show up and make his mark. The Norwegian was marginally better than his anonymous display in the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu, and at least created some danger, most of all when he hit the bar in the first half with a header. But he fell woefully short of expectations, and in four matches against Madrid – who he seems destined to join one day – he has no goals to show for himself.
He was again shackled by Antonio Rudiger, while Nacho also got the better of him. He was unable to play beyond the 90 minutes and asked Guardiola to take him off, meaning he could play no part in the extra period or the shootout. City did not miss him until penalties, although his replacement, Julian Alvarez, did his part from the spot.
Haaland has a love affair with the Champions League and was top scorer in it last season, but he did not raise his game in it at the crucial stage this time around and must be disappointed with his showing this campaign. He bows out with six goals, half as many as he notched in 2022-23, with just one in the knockout rounds.
WINNER: Carlo Ancelotti
So much of the narrative in the run up to this tie centred around the dual between contrasting styles of coach. Guardiola’s City are all about precision and details, a meticulous system pieced together to carve out the highest quality chances possible. Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid, meanwhile, play with more levity and freedom. They shoot from distance, take on half-chances, and have no problem changing the rhythm of their play to carve out opportunities.
And here, it was Ancelotti’s style that won out. Madrid were disciplined in defence, and ambitious enough in attack to capitalise on key moments. Penalties may be a coin toss, but it was Ancelotti’s pragmatism that got Los Blancos there.
Ultimately, then, this served as a vindication of the Italian’s methods. He is not a manager devoid of tactics, but he does allow freedom and expression for his side. And against football’s greatest technician, it was Ancelotti, raised eyebrow and all, that came out victorious.
LOSER: Bernardo Silva & Mateo Kovacic
There is no mercy in a penalty shootout, and the unfortunate souls who miss will forever be the poster boys of failure. Bernardo and Kovacic will now have to carry that burden for the rest of their careers as they could not complete their part in the bargain from 12 yards.
Bernardo committed the cardinal sin of sending his penalty straight at Lunin without trying to deceive him. It was barely a ‘Panenka’, rather a thoughtless and weak attempt that relied only on the goalkeeper moving first. Perhaps the Portuguese was put off by fans behind the goal holding on to the ball for so long, increasing the time he had to wait to take it and giving him too much to think about.
Kovacic at least tried to stretch Lunin, but his penalty was too close to the Ukrainian. City will hope both players can redeem themselves against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, or by playing a part in the Premier League title run-in. They will be remembered as the men who botched the double-treble, so it would be cruel if they could not win at least another piece of silverware this season.
WINNER: Bellingham’s Ballon d’Or credentials
Bellingham has been among the frontrunners for the 2024 Ballon d’Or for most of the season, but his grip on the Golden Ball had rather slipped of late after the goals dried up alongside spells on the sidlines due to injury and suspension.
But it’s on these kinds of nights that credentials are tested, and Bellingham certainly played his part. It was his touch in the build up to Rordygo’s goal that set the pace for the game, and he was always an outlet when Madrid had the ball, finding tidy pockets of space and angled passes into team-mates. He also helped out without the ball, closing down opponents and throwing in a number of vital challenges. And then, there was his penalty, which was wonderfully composed.
This was never going to be an attacking masterclass from Madrid – even less so after they took the lead. As such, Los Blancos’ No.5 needed to turn in a well-rounded showing, and he did just that. The Ballon d’Or could now be his to lose now.
LOSER: The double-treble
To be fair to Guardiola, he had dismissed talk of City winning back-to-back trebles as early as February. “We have 99.99 [percent] possibility that we are not going to win the treble because it has never, never, ever, ever, ever, ever, been done,” he said then. “If it were easy, another team – United in that time – would have done it again.”
It is to the manager’s credit, and his team’s, that they got so close. City threw everything at Madrid and only exit the Champions League by the finest of margins to the aristocrats of European football. They can bow out with their heads held high.
Guardiola had also dismissed talk of pulling off the feat the day before the game, but Bernardo had allowed himself to dream and said he and his team-mates wanted to “create a legacy” and do something no team in Europe had ever done before. There is some irony in the fact that Bernardo ended up ensuring City will not be able to create that legacy this time.
Perhaps it is for the good of the game that they will not be doing it, some semblance of competition restored. But the fact they missed out on this historic opportunity after playing the better football will haunt them for years to come.