The Japan Times - Bellingham 'better than expected', says Madrid's Alonso after Clasico winner

Bellingham netted Madrid's second goal in their 2-1 La Liga win over Barcelona and set up the first for Kylian Mbappe, after scoring the winner as Los Blancos beat Juventus 1-0 on Wednesday in the Champions League.

The midfielder missed several weeks at the start of the season after having the surgery to resolve a long-standing shoulder problem, and was not called up for England duty by coach Thomas Tuchel for matches earlier in October.

"We saw it against Juventus, and today, and against Getafe (last weekend), in the last week he's had three very good games," Alonso told reporters.

"At first you need a bit of time, some minutes to get in gear, and it's gone even better than we expected after the last international break, when he was here and not with the national team.

"Jude is a player who is about feelings, on communicating and connecting, and that's why he has played some very good matches."

Bellingham's goal against Juventus was his first at the Santiago Bernabeu since April.

Madrid stretched their lead on champions Barcelona to five points at the top of the table thanks to Bellingham's winner, after Mbappe opened the scoring and Fermin Lopez equalised for the visitors.

Talk before the game was dominated by comments made by Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal suggesting Madrid "steal" and "complain", but Alonso said his team did not need the extra incentive to beat Barca, after four Clasico defeats last season.

"The team was very motivated, we had been talking about how important the game was beforehand, not just for the three points," explained Alonso.

"(But instead) for where (we) came from, for having a good game, deserving to win, and I am very happy for the boys above all because they needed this feeling of being able to win a big game, like Clasicos are."

Madrid had three goals disallowed for offside and outplayed the Catalans in Alonso's first Clasico.

Winger Vinicius Junior impressed for Madrid but raised eyebrows when he complained vociferously when he was substituted.

"I don't want to lose focus on what is really important here... Vini brought a lot, like the other players," added Alonso.

"It's an important win and it could even have been bigger."

M.Saito--JT