BARCELONA: Jude Bel­­l­i­ngham rescued Real Madrid with a 95th minute strike to secure a 2-1 win over Getafe on Saturday and maintain Los Blancos’ perfect start to La Liga, as they played with a closed roof at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time.

The England international netted his fifth goal in four games to snatch three points from the derby clash, Real’s first game without injured forward Vinicius Junior.

Joselu, the Brazilian’s replacement, had pulled Carlo Ancelotti’s side level after former Real striker Borja Mayoral sent the visitors ahead in the first match under a roof at Re­­al’s remodelled stadium.

La Liga leaders Real sta­r­ted the season with their opening three games all away from home while construction work continued.

It allowed for the retr­actable roof to be finished and it was closed on Saturday, with rain hitting the Spanish capital — but not the players.

“It’s a spectacular atmosphere, there’s something new,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.

“I think the fans pushed a lot today, it’s a much more enclosed atmosphere.

“You can feel that the fans pushed — it’s going to be a very important help and it was today.”

Real fans were in good voice and serenaded match-winner Bellingham with The Beatles’ song ‘Hey Jude’.

“When they were singing ‘Hey Jude’ at the end, I got goosebumps,” Bellin­gham told Real Madrid TV.

“I just wanted to stand still and listen to them. My legs were shaking.”

Getafe did not include on loan Manchester Uni­t­ed striker Mason Green­wood in their squad, after his arrival on Friday. Mayoral started up front for the visitors and, looking to keep his place in the side, he quickly pounced to put the visitors ahead after a heavy Fran Garcia pass.

However, Joselu netted his first Real goal from close range just after the break when Getafe could not clear Luka Modric’s teasing cross.

The Spain international started in place of Vinicius, who suffered a hamstring injury last week and is set to miss over a month.Real turned the screw with Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal hitting the woodwork, whi­le Getafe goalkeeper Sor­ia made a string of good saves.

However, the goalkeeper’s only mistake ended up costing his team, when he could only parry Lucas Vazquez’s long-range drive and Bellingham reacted quickest to turn the loose ball home.

The former Borussia Dor­t­mund man has now scored five of Real’s eight La Liga goals this season, helping to fill the void left by Ballon d’Or holder Kar­im Benzema’s departure.

Bellingham joins a small group of players to have netted in each of their first four Liga matches, including Real’s all-time record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

“His quality isn’t surprising anybody, but the number of goals he’s got is surprising,” said Ancelotti, who deploys Bellingham behind the forwards in a No. 10 role.

Earlier, Takefusa Kubo hit a brace to help Real Sociedad earn their first win of the season, beating promoted side Granada 5-3 in San Sebastian.

Imanol Alguacil’s side drew their opening three lea­­g­ue games in a frustrating domestic start, as the club look forward to their Champions League return after a decade away from Eur­ope’s premier competition.

Real Betis climbed to sixth with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano and Alaves edged Valencia by the same score.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2023