Bellingham Bursts Back: Real Madrid Snatch Derby Revenge in 3-2 Thriller
Real Madrid secured a thrilling 3-2 derby win over Atlético Madrid, with Jude Bellingham making his injury comeback after seven weeks out and Kylian Mbappé declared fully fit by coach Álvaro Arbeloa. Bellingham praised match-winners Vinícius Júnior and Fede Valverde, while Arbeloa backed their international call-ups ahead of the World Cup. The victory extends Madrid's winning run to five under Arbeloa, avenging an earlier 5-2 loss.
Bellingham and Mbappé Fire Up for Derby Glory
Picture this: Real Madrid desperate for revenge after that humiliating 5-2 tonking earlier in the season, facing bitter rivals Atlético Madrid in the cauldron of the Bernabéu. Coach Álvaro Arbeloa, stepping up like a boss, drops the good news in his pre-match briefing – Jude Bellingham is back from hamstring hell and raring to go. The England star, sidelined since early February, even jetted off with the squad midweek but sat out the Champions League romp over Manchester City.
Arbeloa, grinning like he'd just won the lottery, confirmed: "He's available tomorrow, and I reckon he'll get minutes. Smart lad, knows the game's every twist." And Kylian Mbappé? The French speed demon shook off a knee knock, subbed on against City, and is now "100%", per the gaffer. No grudges about international call-ups either – Bellingham to face Uruguay and Japan under Thomas Tuchel, Mbappé off to tangle with Brazil and Colombia for Didier Deschamps. "World Cup's knocking, can't keep these galacticos chained," Arbeloa shrugged.
Epic Comeback and Post-Match Buzz
Fast-forward to Sunday night, and it's derby pandemonium. Madrid edge a 3-2 nail-biter – Arbeloa's first win over the Colchoneros, stretching their streak to five on the bounce. Bellingham, 22 and fresh off seven weeks of misery, gets 22 minutes to taste victory. Speaking to RMTV after, he spilled the beans: "Long old slog, mentally tough. But now? Buzzing to be back with the lads."
The atmosphere? Electric, as always at the Bernabéu for these grudge matches. "Fans make us dig deeper," Bellingham beamed. Heroes of the hour: Vinícius Júnior with a brace – the man's bouncing back like a rubber ball – and Fede Valverde levelling early in the second half. "These two? Clutch when it counts," Jude praised. "Fede's attitude is gold, Vini's turning heads again." Remember those whispers earlier this year about the trio – Bellingham, Vinícius, Valverde – supposedly agitating against the old boss? Water under the bridge now.
As Alex Kirkland reported for ESPN Spain, Arbeloa's tweaking tactics to slot in the big guns. No more makeshift with Brahim Díaz; it's elite mode. But bad news on Thibaut Courtois – muscular tweak against City, no return date. On Antonio Rüdiger, whose deal's up this summer? Arbeloa's all heart: "I'd build a statue for him in my garden. Top bloke."
Form on Fire, International Blues Ahead
Madrid's humming under Arbeloa – defending solid, attacking with flair. That earlier Atlético hiding? Forgotten. Bellingham nailed it: "Team's on song, especially last few games." But here's the rub: internationals loom, and with the World Cup months away, clubs vs countries rumbles on. Arbeloa's chill about it, though – "These players earn their caps."
For fans, it's pure adrenaline. Bellingham's mental battle adds grit to the glamour; Mbappé's sprints scream danger. Valverde and Vinícius? Unstoppable force. Atlético fought, but Madrid's depth prevailed. Revenge tasted sweet – pint's on Simeone?
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