Jude Bellingham looking to redeem himself on the pitch as Real Madrid shift focus to Champions League
Jude Bellingham initially propelled Real Madrid to a lead in their Champions League play-off against Manchester City; however, his week quickly took a negative turn.
The England international received a red card in the first half, contributing to Los Blancos dropping two points in the Spanish title race during their match against Osasuna on Saturday.
On a positive note, the midfielder will be well-rested for the upcoming second leg against City at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, with Madrid currently holding a 3-2 advantage in the tie following their win at the Etihad Stadium last week.
Bellingham expressed feelings of disappointment over his dismissal for dissent, maintaining that the referee had misinterpreted his actions, and he extended an apology to his teammates.
All will be forgiven if he can assist in leading Madrid past Pep Guardiola's City and into the round of 16.
"Enough said about the misunderstanding, just wanted to apologise again for leaving my team-mates in such a tough position and thank the fans for their support and understanding," wrote Bellingham on social media.
"We'll see each other on Wednesday, (playing) at home."
This marked his second red card for disputing decisions with referees since his transfer to Spain from Borussia Dortmund in 2023.
Although he has experienced moments of frustration with match officials, Bellingham has largely found joy in his time in Spain.
His contributions were vital as Madrid secured the La Liga title last season, and he played a significant role in helping his team achieve their record-extending 15th Champions League trophy at Wembley, against his former club, Dortmund.
Bellingham had previously been associated with a move to City, but upon joining Madrid, he expressed that the interest from the Spanish giants gave him "goosebumps" and made his heart nearly stop.
"I'd always been aware of the interest from England so that was pretty normal," he said after joining.
"Money is not a thing for me. I don't think about money at all when I make these kind of decisions. I never have and will -- I play the game purely out of love...
"It wasn't a case of other teams are bad or they weren't good but, for me, Madrid is the greatest."
In his remarkable debut season, Bellingham netted 23 goals in 43 appearances across all competitions, including a successful penalty conversion during the Champions League quarter-final shootout that Madrid won against City.
Bellingham has consistently excelled in crucial matches for Madrid.
The 21-year-old made significant contributions by scoring important goals in both league Clasicos last season, as well as in both encounters against Girona, who were the primary title challengers for most of the season.
In the Champions League, he assisted Vinicius for a goal in the final against Dortmund and scored four times during the group stage.
This season, after the arrival of French superstar Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham has taken on a slightly more withdrawn role, which initially made it challenging for him to regain his attacking form.
He did not score in his first 12 matches, a stark contrast to the double figures he had achieved by the same point last season.
However, coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed confidence in the midfielder's potential and commended his efforts in a defensive role.
Ultimately, Bellingham's goal-scoring instinct reemerged, as he has found the net 10 times in his last 20 matches, along with providing six assists.
His latest goal came in the 92nd minute against City, giving Madrid a crucial advantage.
The days that followed have been eventful, but as the Champions League anthem resonates at the Bernabeu, Bellingham will be focused on fulfilling his responsibilities.
SportsLigue