Jude Bellingham continued his outstanding form by scoring twice as Real Madrid dismantled Osasuna 4-0 to regain the top spot in La Liga on Saturday. Girona’s 1-0 victory over Cadiz briefly put the Catalan underdogs ahead by one point, but Madrid comfortably secured victory at the Santiago Bernabeu to reclaim their first-place position. Vinicius Junior and Joselu also found the net during the impressive win.
Bellingham, the top scorer in the division with eight goals, once again demonstrated his prowess in the final third. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti had moved the former Borussia Dortmund player into a more attacking role behind two central strikers, a strategic shift that paid off handsomely. After a brilliant solo goal against Napoli in the midweek Champions League match and two more goals against Osasuna, Bellingham now boasts 10 goals across both competitions in just 10 appearances.
Madrid defender Dani Carvajal praised Bellingham’s form, saying, “He’s in top form, he’s showing the player he is, I hope he keeps on like this. I hope he keeps scoring goals and keeps helping us because he can win us titles.”
In the absence of injured players David Alaba and Eder Militao, as well as the suspension of Nacho following a reckless tackle last weekend, Ancelotti deployed defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni alongside Antonio Rudiger in the heart of the defense. However, Tchouameni had a quiet day at the back as Madrid dominated the match, ensuring their hold on the top position over the international break.
Madrid opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Luka Modric, given a rare start, provided an assist to Carvajal, who then cleverly set up Bellingham. The midfielder, making a dynamic run into the box, created space for himself and confidently fired home, leaving goalkeeper Sergio Herrera with little chance.
Vinicius had a chance to extend the lead but narrowly missed when he could have passed to Bellingham. Meanwhile, Madrid goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had little to do at the other end. Osasuna had one good opportunity just before half-time, with Ante Budimir missing the target after a setup from Ruben Pena.
Bellingham played a pivotal role in Madrid’s second goal in the 55th minute, initiating and completing the move with a one-two alongside Fede Valverde before slotting the ball into the net, showcasing his blend of grace and dynamism. Vinicius added to Madrid’s lead, rounding goalkeeper Herrera skillfully and tapping the ball home after a pass from Valverde.
Vinicius turned provider for the fourth goal, setting up Joselu, who finished with enthusiasm to score his fifth league goal in six games on loan.
Osasuna’s Ruben Pena acknowledged the challenge they faced, stating, “It’s a tough place to go, against one of the best teams in the world – they were far superior.”
Joselu had an opportunity for his sixth goal when David Garcia conceded a penalty for handball, but Herrera saved his effort down the middle. Despite the miss, Madrid celebrated their most convincing victory of the season, with Carvajal noting, “The team came out for the three points from the start, we played a complete game in all areas, and we gave up few chances.