Mixed fortunes for El-Classico rivals: Madrid disunites Manchester, Arsenal batters Barca
The unfolding drama around Mbappé shouldn't obscure the rising talent that is Jude Bellingham, a player whose style and agility often mirror Zinedine Zidane's.
Having given an impressive performance in his debut match against Milan, it took him only five minutes against Manchester United to honor the iconic number '5' jersey that the French legend made famous. Bellingham converted a long pass from Rüdiger into a sublime display of skill, expertly controlling the ball with his left foot before elegantly lifting it over Onana with his right.
His performances have left no room for doubt; Bellingham is quickly finding his footing at Real Madrid.
Before the intense focus on Mbappé began, it was Bellingham who was the European football season's star recruit. His style of play exudes a celestial quality, and his youthful vigor brings a refreshing dynamism to the team. Bellingham, at just 19, adds a rarely-seen
energetic flair to Ancelotti's team. He defies the stereotypical image of the delicate midfielder and instead embodies a relentless force of energy that has flawlessly integrated into the already formidable team.
Carlo Ancelotti's iteration of Real Madrid 3.0 looks incredibly promising as he seems to be adeptly managing the system transition.
The team was resolute against Manchester United, showcasing a solid defense and a relentless attack with Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Bellingham, and Modric at the helm of midfield. They demonstrated perfect control over every aspect of the game, fluidly shifting between combination play and direct football.
Their performance effectively rendered United, including former players Varane and Casemiro, helpless, exhibiting a more physically aggressive team. Their passionate approach to the preseason friendly signals a revival of hunger in the dressing room.
The match against Manchester United was nothing short of a positive experience for Real Madrid. Their extensive player bench, boasting an unparalleled array of midfielders, continues to impress. The likes of Modric and Kroos remain unfalteringly efficient, while Camavinga, Tchoauméni, Bellingham, and Valverde infuse the team with a pace more akin to the Premier League. Moreover, the defense has been strengthened with the addition of Fran García, whose physicality rivals Gareth Bale in his early days as a left-back.
Elsewhere, Leandro Trossard showed his indisputable quality on a field with more stars than constellations, putting an exclamation mark on an eight-goal game for football purists.
Arsenal's 5-3 victory over the Spanish champions was orchestrated by a quick-fire brace from the Belgian. His opener - a left-footed laser that skidded along the SoFi surface and into the far post - gave Arsenal a 3-2 lead, its first, on 55 minutes.
Before Barcelona could answer, the Belgian had added a second by way of a piercing cross from Kieran Tierney. Once celebrations had been and gone, Trossard was substituted signaling an end to his night.
While his 78th-minute strike could have vanquished hopes of a Barcelona comeback, Ferran Torres made sure to set up a finish befitting of the passionate 70,223 packed into the house that Stan built.
Fittingly, in front of its occasionally-beloved owner - depending on which continent he may be on -- Arsenal sealed the game behind the sheer force of a Fabio Vieira rocket in the final seconds.
The 5-3 score did not flatter Arsenal but Barca had its chances to change matters long before the final whistle. Ousmane Dembele looked Barcelona's biggest threat of the second half and came within a post of making it 3-3.
The woodwork got in the way of Barcelona just several minutes later, as Balde thrashed an effort against the opposite post to Dembele.
England's runners-up and the Spanish champs went toe-to-toe in two action-packed halves, totaling four goals in each
