BARCELONA, Spain: Jude Bellingham equaled the fantastic scoring numbers at Real Madrid of Cristiano Ronaldo's start with the club on Saturday, showing again that Real Madrid got much more than a promising midfielder when they signed him this summer.
The England international took his tally to 10 in as many games after netting twice to help Madrid rout Osasuna 4-0 and keep the Spanish league lead. That was the best scoring start for a new Madrid player since Ronaldo also scored 10 in his first 10 games after his 2009 transfer from Manchester United.
“I’m a confident guy, but I didn’t expect such a good start,” Bellingham said. “At this stage of the season you can’t ask for more."
Not only has the 20-year-old Bellingham started filling the big boots of an aging Luka Modric, he is also helping Madrid to quickly move past the exit of Karim Benzema amid a still unsuccessful pursuit of Kylian Mbappé.
“He puts on his Superman cape in nearly every game," veteran defender Dani Carvajal, who set up Bellingham’s opener, said about his new teammate.
Bellingham sent a message that he was ready to handle high expectations when he accepted the No. 5 of Zinedine Zidane at Madrid. But nobody expected him to score at this rate, not even his coach. And this was for a team that were supposed to struggle after Benzema, their top scorer for the past four seasons, left for Saudi Arabia.
Bellingham leads the league with eight goals — and has scored in six of eight league games. He has also scored in both of Madrid’s Champions League games, including a 3-2 win at Napoli this week.
“His start to the season has been a surprise in every aspect. Nobody expected him to score like this,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
His sudden transformation into a serial goal-scorer since joining Madrid from Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 14 times in 42 games last season, has quickly elevated Bellingham to the role of team leader.
He has proven nearly unstoppable for defenders to keep track of when he makes his runs forward from the midfield. His first goal on Saturday in the ninth minute was a product of one of those runs, when Carvajal saw him coming and used one touch to knock a pass by Modric into the path of the charging Bellingham.
Bellingham used one touch to cut further into the heart of the box and fired over goalkeeper Sergio Herrera.
He struck again in the 54th when he worked a quick one-two with Federico Valverde while surrounded by defenders in the area.
It was his second brace for Madrid after also scoring two in a 3-1 win at Almeria.
Vinícius Júnior added a third goal on the break in the 65th and five minutes later set up Joselu Mato for Madrid’s fourth to crush Osasuna in a rematch of last year’s Copa del Rey final.
“(Bellingham is) incredible. He was born to play for Madrid and to define an era,” Vinícius said.
“I hope this connection that we have lasts for the many years that we can play together. I love playing with Jude.”
Madrid remained two points ahead of Girona, which won at Cadiz 1-0. Barcelona are four points behind Madrid before the defending champion visit Granada on Sunday.
Aurélien Tchouaméni, a holding midfielder, had to play as a central defender for Madrid with Éder Militão and David Alaba injured and Nacho Fernández suspended. That left Antonio Rüdiger as the only central defender available, but Osasuna were unable to take advantage of Tchouaméni's lack of experience.
Osasuna slipped into 11th place. Their only relief in an otherwise painful game was Herrera's save of a penalty kick by Joselu to deny Madrid a fifth goal.
Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate also praised Bellingham.
“(Bellingham) is a super complete player. He plays well, scores, gives assists. He is still young and will only get better,” said Arrasate, who watched the game from the stands while serving a suspension.
GARCÍA GOAL FOR GIRONA
Aleix García’s goal in the 59th minute gave Girona the win against a Cadiz team that played for 80 minutes down a man.
Darwin Machis saw a direct red card in the 10th minute for a foul on Yangel Herrera.
Cadiz are 13th after losing their first home game of the season.
Girona, a team from northeast Catalonia partly owned by Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi ownership, entered the previous round as leader after winning six games in a row before they lost to Madrid 3-0 last weekend.
Valencia also drew 1-1 at Mallorca.
Bellingham matches Ronaldo's start at Real Madrid with 10 goals in first 10 games
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Bellingham matches Ronaldo's start at Real Madrid with 10 goals in first 10 games
- The England international took his tally to 10 in as many games after netting twice to help Madrid rout Osasuna 4-0
- “I’m a confident guy, but I didn’t expect such a good start,” Bellingham said
Real Madrid claim Liga title after Girona stun Barca
- Ancelotti’s side did their homework by beating Cadiz and after last season’s champions stumbled against Girona, Los Blancos were crowned champions for a record-extending 36th time
- “We’ve had a spectacular Liga campaign,” Ancelotti told reporters
MADRID: Real Madrid earned what coach Carlo Ancelotti said was a “deserved” La Liga title on Saturday after beating Cadiz 3-0 and Girona sealed it with a stunning 4-2 victory over Barcelona.
Ancelotti’s side did their homework by beating Cadiz and after last season’s champions stumbled against Girona, Los Blancos were crowned champions for a record-extending 36th time.
Girona’s dramatic victory saw the Catalan minnows qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history, in only their fourth season in Spain’s topflight.
Ancelotti rotated heavily ahead of the Champions League semifinal second leg clash with Bayern, but his players still got the job done.
Brahim Diaz netted in the 51st minute to put Madrid ahead and then set up Jude Bellingham, with Joselu tapping home a third.
“We’ve had a spectacular Liga campaign,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“We’ve made few errors and the advantage is deserved.”
Madrid’s comfortable win over Cadiz sent them 14 points clear of last season’s champions Barcelona, in third, with only 12 left to play for.
Girona, second after their second 4-2 win over Barcelona this season, trail Madrid by 13 points.
“We leave our skins out there on the pitch to live moments like today’s,” Madrid striker Joselu told Real Madrid TV.
“There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are delighted to be here... and these are special moments.”
With the Bayern second leg in mind, Ancelotti only selected captain Nacho Fernandez from the starting line-up that earned a 2-2 draw in Bavaria this week.
Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois started for the first time after a nine-month layoff after a knee injury and kept a clean sheet.
Madrid midfielder Luka Modric became the oldest player to appear for the club in La Liga, at 38 years and 238 days, breaking late Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas’ record from 1965 by five days.
The visitors, 18th and still battling to stay up, shaded the first half but Madrid’s goals came in the second.
Courtois made a superb save to deny Chris Ramos early in the second half and Madrid took the lead immediately afterwards.
Diaz received from the evergreen Modric on the edge of the area, turned slickly and curled an effort into the top corner.
Bellingham, on as a substitute for Turkish teenager Arda Guler, added the second soon after entering the fray at the end of a fine team move.
It was the England international’s 18th league goal of the season, keeping him in contention to finish as the top scorer.
Madrid put the cherry on their cake after a superb run by Nacho.
Poised to depart at the end of the season, the Spaniard was hailed by the Bernabeu after setting up Joselu for a simple finish in stoppage time.
Los Blancos were able to celebrate after Girona came from behind twice to defeat Barcelona in a wild clash.
The Catalans took the lead through Andreas Christensen after three minutes but La Liga’s top scorer Artem Dovbyk levelled with his 20th goal of the campaign just a minute later.
Robert Lewandowski sent Barcelona ahead with a penalty after Lamine Yamal was felled, but substitute Portu made a huge impact in the second half for Girona.
Michel Sanchez’s side netted two goals in two minutes to turn the game on its head. Portu netted the equalizer moments after coming on and then set up Miguel Gutierrez to put Girona ahead.
Portu sensationally volleyed home the fourth to ignite Girona’s tiny Montilivi stadium and get the party started.
Girona played Champions League music over the stadium sound system to give their fans a taste of things to come.
“It’s a shame, we sink with any negative situation,” said Barcelona coach Xavi after Barcelona lost their crown.
“Like this it’s impossible to compete.”
Haaland hits four as Man City keep title pressure on leaders Arsenal
- City responded to Arsenal’s victory just hours earlier with a goal blitz at the Etihad Stadium
- Haaland, who was visibly unhappy to be substituted in the closing stages, made it 36 goals in all competitions this term less as he curled a fine finish into the far corner in the 54th minute
LONDON: Erling Haaland scored four times as Manchester City thrashed Wolves 5-1 to move within one point of Arsenal after the Premier League leaders beat Bournemouth 3-0 on Saturday.
City responded to Arsenal’s victory just hours earlier with a goal blitz at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead in the 12th minute when Rayan Ait-Nouri clattered into Josko Gvardiol, conceding a penalty that Haaland stroked past Jose Sa.
Haaland bagged City’s second in the 35th minute as he rose highest at the far post to meet Rodri’s cross with a majestic header that looped over Sa.
Deep into first half stoppage-time, Nelson Semedo tripped Haaland to give City another penalty that was drilled home by the Norway striker.
Hwang Hee-chan got one back for Wolves in the 53rd minute after a mistake by City keeper Ederson.
But Haaland, who was visibly unhappy to be substituted in the closing stages, made it 36 goals in all competitions this term less as he curled a fine finish into the far corner in the 54th minute.
Julian Alvarez’s 85th minute finish capped City’s sixth consecutive league win, extending their unbeaten run in the competition to 20 games.
The reigning champions, who have a game in hand on Arsenal, will clinch an unprecedented fourth successive English title if they win their last three matches.
They head to Fulham next Saturday before visiting Tottenham on May 14 and hosting West Ham five days later.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal cruised to a fourth successive victory, with Bukayo Saka’s penalty putting them ahead on the stroke of half-time.
Leandro Trossard slotted past Bournemouth keeper Mark Travers in the 70th minute before Declan Rice capped a dominant display by blasting home in stoppage-time.
Chasing their first title since 2004, Arsenal’s 26th Premier League victory this season equalled the club’s top-flight record for a single campaign.
“It was probably the best first half we’ve played all season,” Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said.
“We were unbelievable. Everything flowing, super composed on the ball. We generated so many chances, we could have gone three, four, five up easily.”
Arsenal travel to Manchester United in their penultimate game next weekend before hosting Everton on May 19.
Burnley’s hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a huge blow as Newcastle ran riot in a 4-1 win at Turf Moor.
Vincent Kompany’s second bottom side are five points from safety, with only two games left to avoid an immediate return to the Championship after last season’s promotion.
Callum Wilson put Newcastle ahead with a 19th minute tap-in and Sean Longstaff doubled their advantage in the 35th minute.
Bruno Guimaraes made it three in the 40th minute with a powerful strike before Arijanet Muric saved Alexander Isak’s 50th minute penalty.
Isak made amends five minutes later when he grabbed his 20th league goal this season, making Dara O’Shea’s 86th minute header no consolation for bedraggled Burnley.
At Bramall Lane, fourth bottom Nottingham Forest took a giant step toward survival with a 3-1 win against already-relegated Sheffield United.
Gonzalo Montiel brought down Ben Brereton Diaz and the Blades forward picked himself up to lash in the 17th minute penalty.
But Callum Hudson-Odoi grabbed Forest’s equalizer in the 27th minute with a superb strike that curled into the far corner.
Ryan Yates slammed in Forest’s second from close-range after 51 minutes and Hudson-Odoi curled home in the 65th minute.
That gave the Blades an unwanted record as the first club to concede 100 goals in a 38-match Premier League season.
Forest, awaiting the result of their appeal against a four-point deduction for financial breaches, are three points ahead of third bottom Luton, who drew 1-1 with Everton on Friday.
West London rivals Brentford and Fulham shared a dour 0-0 draw.
Reus begins farewell tour while Bayern stumble in Stuttgart
- Late goals from South Korea’s Jeong Woo-yeong and the DRC’s Silas Katompa Mvumpa saw Bayern suffer their first defeat in Stuttgart since 2007
- It was a particularly emotional afternoon for Reus, who had announced on Friday that after 12 years at Dortmund he would leave at the end of the season
BERLIN: Marco Reus scored what could be his last ever goal for Borussia Dortmund in a 5-1 win over Augsburg on Saturday, while Bayern Munich stumbled to a 3-1 defeat away to Stuttgart ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Late goals from South Korea’s Jeong Woo-yeong and the DRC’s Silas Katompa Mvumpa saw Bayern suffer their first defeat in Stuttgart since 2007.
Stuttgart took the lead with a smash-and-grab goal just before the half-hour mark, Leonidas Stergiou prodding home after a dainty chip over the back line from Deniz Undav.
Bayern then equalized in controversial circumstances, after Stuttgart captain Waldemar Anton conceded a penalty with a very light challenge on Serge Gnabry.
Harry Kane converted the resulting penalty, taking his season tally to 36 goals, moving to within just four of Robert Lewandowski’s Bundesliga record.
But an 83rd minute header from Jeong put Stuttgart back in front before Silas sealed the win in stoppage time.
While Bayern head to Madrid with their tails between their legs, fellow Champions League semifinalists Dortmund were in fine form ahead of their trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
It was a particularly emotional afternoon for Reus, who had announced on Friday that after 12 years at Dortmund he would leave at the end of the season.
Youssoufa Moukoko gave Dortmund the lead early on, flicking the ball in from close range after some chaotic defending from Augsburg.
Donyell Malen doubled the lead on 20 minutes, heading home and in swinging corner from English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
Moukoko added another from a corner shortly afterwards, before Ruben Vargas pulled one back for Augsburg against the run of play.
Dortmund remained unfazed, however, and Reus soon made it 4-1 with an elegant chip over goalkeeper Alexander Meyer.
Reus then set up Felix Nmecha for Dortmund’s fifth in the second half, and hit the bar himself before leaving the pitch to standing ovations on 65 minutes.
Elsewhere, Wolfsburg moved closer to safety with a 3-0 home win over Darmstadt while Werder Bremen were held 2-2 at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Two goals from Nick Woltemade saw Bremen come from behind after Robin Hack’s early opener for Gladbach, but the visitors snatched a point when Florian Neuhaus smashed a late penalty into the top corner.
Two early goals from Patrick Wimmer and Jonas Wind and a late strike from Vaclav Cerny saw Wolfsburg cruise past already relegated Darmstadt.
Ralph Hasenhuettl’s side are now nine points clear of the relegation play-off place, having played one more game than fellow strugglers Mainz.
Ipswich promoted to Premier League for first time in 22 years
- Leeds needed an Ipswich defeat coupled with victory over Southampton to leap into the top two
- Ipswich’s most famous fan Ed Sheeran, who sponsors the club’s shirts, was not in attendance
LONDON: Ipswich returned to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years after beating Huddersfield 2-0 to secure promotion from the Championship on Saturday.
Goals from Wes Burns and Omari Hutchinson ensured the Tractor Boys became just the fourth side in the Premier League era to go from the third to the top tier via consecutive promotions.
Leeds needed an Ipswich defeat coupled with victory over Southampton to leap into the top two.
But Daniel Farke’s men lost 2-1 to Saints at Elland Road, meaning he will come up against old club Norwich in the playoff semifinals.
Ipswich’s most famous fan Ed Sheeran, who sponsors the club’s shirts, was not in attendance for wild scenes of celebration at Portman Road as fans poured on to the pitch and lit blue flares at full-time.
The Suffolk club, which was sold to American investors for just £40 million ($50 million), will now pocket at least £200 million in television revenue in the coming years.
Huddersfield had already been realistically relegated prior to Saturday due to their vastly inferior goal difference compared to their rivals at the bottom.
Burns settled any nerves among the home support when he fired low into the bottom corner on 27 minutes.
On-loan Chelsea winger Hutchinson has been one of the stars of Ipswich’s season and made sure Kieran McKenna’s men could relax by smashing home a second just three minutes into the second half.
Ipswich could face a fight just to hold on to the highly-rated McKenna, a former first team coach at Manchester United.
The 37-year-old Northern Irishman has been linked with a move to Brighton should Roberto De Zerbi leave the Seagulls.
West Brom beat Preston 3-0 to secure their playoff place and will face Southampton.
There was also drama at the bottom of the table as Birmingham were relegated in their first season with NFL legend Tom Brady as a minority owner of the club.
A 1-0 win over Norwich was not enough to save the Blues.
Blackburn spoiled Leicester’s title party with a 2-0 win at the King Power to survive and deny the Foxes amassing 100 points.
Plymouth ended Hull’s playoff hopes with a 1-0 win to hold off Birmingham by a point.
Japan beats Uzbekistan in stoppage time in U23 Asian Cup final
- Substitute Fuki Yamada broke the deadlock in the first minute of stoppage time
AL-RAYYAN, Qatar: Japan left it late to win its second Under-23 Asian Cup after beating Uzbekistan 1-0 in the final on Friday.
Substitute Fuki Yamada broke the deadlock in the first minute of stoppage time at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium and Japan goalkeeper Leo Kokubo saved a penalty to preserve the lead.
Uzbekistan, the 2018 champion, almost took an incredible lead just before halftime. Ruslanbek Jiyanov, just inside the Japanese half, tried to send a long cross into the area but, instead, the flight of the ball deceived Kokubo and bounced off the crossbar.
For the goal, Ryotaro Araki backheeled the ball to Yamada just outside the area, and he fired low into the left corner.
Just five minutes later, Uzbekistan was awarded a penalty after a VAR review when Hiroki Sekine handled in the area. Kokubo made a diving save to his right to push out Umarali Rakhmonaliev’s powerful shot.
Both finalists and third-placed Iran also qualified for Paris Olympics men’s football. Fourth-placed Indonesia has one more chance to make it to a first Olympics since 1956 with a playoff against Guinea next Thursday.
