Something has changed for Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid

In Real Madrid’s recent 3-2 win against Alavésa small but telling moment went largely unnoticed. With the score at 3-0, Madrid started a counterattack. Vinicius Jr. led the attack, supported by Jude Bellingham. However, the Brazilian decided to take the shot himself and Bellingham threw his arms up in disappointment, visibly frustrated.

By this point, the game at the Santiago Bernabéu had become a celebration, with fans even calling for Vallejo to be substituted. However, Bellingham was eager to make a name for himself and appeared to be missing the outstanding goalscoring record he enjoyed last season. Now, with Kylian Mbappé’s injury, The Englishman will play in more attacking positions.

Bellingham goalless in front of Derbi

Last season, his first with Madrid, Bellingham scored seven goals in the team’s first nine games and finished the season with 23 goals and 13 assists. This season, which was expected to confirm his status as a key player, he remains influential, although less influential in front of goal. He has yet to score a goal and has only recorded two assists. While he only missed one of Madrid’s first nine games last season, he has only managed to play in five games so far this year.

Even though it seemed that Rodrygo would be the underdog when Mbappé arrived, Carlo Ancelotti’s determination to keep the Brazilian in the starting XI may have seen him lose his place in the starting lineup and led to a tactical shift back to a 4-3-3 reminiscent of the ‘BBC’ era. This adjustment has forced Bellingham to delve deeper and change his role. No longer positioned so close to the target, Bellingham is now more involved in the team’s game-building, and with great success. But after Mbappé’s injury, Jude returns to the attacking midfield role in which he was so dangerous – as a number 10 in attack and as a defender on the left in a 4-4-2 when Madrid are on the defensive.

The statistics clearly show that Bellingham’s commitment has changed. He shoots less often and from less optimal positions than last season. In the 2022/23 season, he took a total of 96 shots, scored 23 goals, took 4.17 shots per goal and averaged one shot every 35 minutes. However, this season Bellingham has only taken nine shots without finding the net, averaging one shot every 49 minutes, a significant decrease from last year. Before El Derbi against local rivals Atlético, Bellingham will be back in the position that brought him so close to winning the Ballon d’Orwith the chance to rediscover his goalscoring form. Don’t be surprised if we hear a famous Beatles song from the stands more often in the coming weeks.