Madrid and colorful Bellingham do the job

Jude Bellingham: La Liga champion; Champions League winner. The legend continues.
Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over a brilliant Borussia Dortmund at Wembley did them good – second-half goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Jnr overshadowed a lackluster performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
But Madrid did what they always do, they got the job done.
In reality, Bellingham was poor but, when the final whistle came, he was dancing around the center circle crying tears of joy.
It is hoped that this will be repeated in Berlin on July 14.
Early problems
Bellingham spent the first 45 minutes on the edge of what was developing into a good game.
It’s easy to forget that he’s only 20 years old and was playing the biggest game of his club career. The early nerves were evident as they conceded the ball twice in the opening stages as Ancelotti’s hotly watched side struggled to make any headway against Dortmund’s well-organised defence.
Emre Can was tasked with containing Madrid’s dangerous player and he did so using a combination of strength – the former Liverpool twice caught the England international in the first 30 minutes – and clever positioning, denying Bellingham the space he preferred. to work.
With Madrid heavily favored by the trio of Bellingham, Vinicius Jnr and Rodrygo who offered little, Dortmund began to believe and should have gone into the break at least one goal ahead.
Karim Adeyemi used his lightning speed to get in behind the Madrid defense but took a hard touch trying to round Thibaut Courtois and the chance was lost. Niclas Fullkrug then fired a shot against the post although it is possible that VAR intervened as the ball entered the net.
👑 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄 👑
Real Madrid has done it again in the Champions League 🏆🌟 pic.twitter.com/3T4UwToQox
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballantnt) June 1, 2024
Adeyemi saw another effort saved by Courtois while the Belgian goalkeeper also did well to clear Marcel Sabitzer’s drive.
With four Champions League crowns already in his hands, Ancelotti was not alarmed but would have wanted to slip his side, especially Bellingham, at the break.
Did Bellingham improve after the break?
He got part of his wish with Madrid offering little as an attacking midfielder. Toni Kroos almost marked his final appearance for the club with a goal with a free-kick save from Gregor Kobel before Carvajal almost slotted in at the far post to convert Vinicius Jnr’s cross.
Bellingham’s contribution remained limited, however, with one unnecessary play that went out of play.
When he got to the crease he changed his lines, failing to connect with Vinicius Jnr’s brilliant cross that needed just a touch to send it past the on-fire Kobel.
It doesn’t matter. If the boy wondered if he couldn’t do it, one of Madrid’s wily veterans was there to bail him out. Six minutes later, Kroos’ delivery into the left corner was a good inch wide and Carvajal rose to head past Kobel.
Carvajal and Vini won it for Real Madrid 🏆#UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/vdVKAIiGmK
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) June 1, 2024
Madrid had found their swagger and Bellingham should have finished the game as a contest after 77 minutes only when a heavy first touch allowed Nico Schlotterbeck to miss a shot on goal.
It was still looking like a frustrating night for the former Birmingham City man but he played a big role with seven minutes to go, latching on to Ian Maatsen’s poor pass and sliding past Vinicius Jnr, who made no mistake to make it 2-0.
It was to prove his last act as he came on shortly afterwards, alongside Kroos, who deserved to be applauded by the Madrid fans one last time.
There won’t be another club final for German great Kroos, who is due to retire after this summer’s Euros, but there will be plenty more for Bellingham.
He was far from his best tonight but still ends his first season in Madrid as a double winner.
Not bad for a Brum lad.