After a disappointing international week, which saw Rodrygo’s Brazil suffer back-to-back defeats and racial abuse online after his argument with Messi, the Brazilian came in clutch for Real as he scored twice and assisted once in this match against Cádiz, where he was never going to start. According to Carlo Ancelotti, he wanted to give Rodrygo some rest because he only trained yesterday after a long trip from Brazil. However, due to Brahim Diaz’s intestinal injury, he had no choice but to opt for Rodrygo in the starting lineup. Fortunately, the Brazilian sensation did not let the off-field fiascos bother him as he delivered a dazzling display in the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla.
Rodrygo Becomes Third Real Madrid Player in the 21st Century to Contribute Three Goals in Successive Matches
Despite a weakened Real Madrid side, Rodrygo and Real found no trouble in their cohesion, as they soaked up the pressure well and launched a devastating attack in the 14th minute, which saw Rodrygo breaking through the left flank before firing a sensation strike into the top right corner. The match unfolded as many people expected, with Los Blancos dominating play as they came close several times until Rodrygo scored his second 50 minutes later.
The Brazilian showcased his brilliant dribbling skills once more as he lost three defenders with a casual drop of a shoulder before sweeping the ball past Ledesma and into the back of the net. Ten minutes later, Rodrygo turned provided as he advanced near the penalty spot and fed Bellingham, who calmly drilled the ball into the goal with a left-footed finish. With the game sealed and done, Rodrygo and Bellingham left the field for some much-needed rest.
Following up his two goals and two assists against Valencia in the previous fixtures, his two goals and one assist today make Rodrygo one of only three Real Madrid stars in the 21st century to achieve the feat of being involved in three goals in successive matches. The others are Gonzalo Higuain, who did so once, and current Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who managed it an incredible seven times.
Rodrygo has SEVEN goal contributions in his last two LALIGA games 👀
⚽️⚽️🅰️ vs. Cadiz
⚽️⚽️🅰️🅰️ vs. ValenciaOn a tear ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/6m93KSbANA
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 26, 2023
Jude Bellingham Breaks Cristiano Ronaldo and Di Stéfano’s Real Madrid Record
While it is not often to see Jude Bellingham overshadowed by a teammate at Real Madrid, Rodyrgo’s performance today earned him the spotlight ahead of the brilliant Englishman. However, Bellingham might have a long-lasting say in the history books as his goal today marks his 14th goal in 15 matches for Real, surpassing the record previously set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Di Stéfano.
For context, Jude Bellingham has surpassed the best goal-scoring start in the history of Real Madrid in his first 15 official games with 14 goals, eclipsing the 13 held by Cristiano Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stéfano and Pruden Sanchez. To make it even more impressive, Bellingham broke it while playing as a midfielder, while his predecessors were all strikers.
According to former Real Madrid defender Aitor Karanka, who won three Champions Leagues during his time at the club, he is not surprised by Bellingham’s impact but by the pace he achieved it. “I did not have any surprise or doubt, but maybe one surprise is just how quickly he’s done this. I played with Figo and Zidane, and even for them, it took time. The only one I think of is Raul, who started at 18 or 19, but when you are as young as Jude, it’s hard to find anyone who has been as successful as him.”
JUDE BELLINGHAM MAKES HISTORY! 🤩
No player has ever scored more goals for Real Madrid in their first 15 matches.
🥇 Bellingham (14)
🥈 Cristiano Ronaldo (13)
🥈 Di Stéfano (13)He’s only getting started 🔥 pic.twitter.com/FIqu3N29rQ
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 26, 2023
Carlo Ancelotti Addresses Rodrygo and Bellingham’s Injury Concerns
After the match, reporters bombarded Carlo Ancelotti about Bellingham’s injury, to which he replied: “Bellingham is fine. His shoulder still hurts, but he is playing with protection and is fine. He played a very good game today.” As for Rodrygo’s performance, the Italian manager praised: “Rodrygo made the difference in today’s game, he had a good game with a good attitude, we are happy.”
In terms of his side momentarily regaining top spot after Barcelona failed to win at Rayo Vallecano, Ancelotti stated: “It’s an important moment in the season. We have some vital games until Christmas. Today’s game gives me a lot of confidence for the next matches. So far this season, we have done very well. The team has always been competitive, and we have won a lot of games.”
Lastly, when the media asked about the overreliance on Rudiger, who has been playing non-stop in Eder Militao, and then David Alaba’s absence, Ancelotti replied: “Today the doubt was Alaba or Rudiger. I preferred to rest Alaba because Cádiz prefer using long balls, and Rudiger could help us more with that. Resting Rudiger could be an idea for the next games, though.”
🗣️ Carlo Ancelotti: “Rodrygo has made the difference today.” pic.twitter.com/evnZXuYIXw
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) November 26, 2023
What’s Next for Real Madrid?
With their passage to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League already secured, Real Madrid will hope to claim the top spot in their group as they welcome Napoli to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Wednesday. While Real won the initial fixture between the two, it was a hard-fought 3-2 win, and Napoli was not in the best of forms.
Thus, Real Madrid could not let their guard down against the Serie A champions after their 2-1 win against Atalanta as they are gradually regaining their title-winning form.
To catch all the action and build up to this week’s Champions League action, follow AsiaSport for daily updates and high-definition highlights for the matches you miss.
