Jude Bellingham's late heroics propel Real Madrid past resilient Union Berlin
- Rob Fleming
- 21 September 2023
In a thrilling UEFA Champions League clash, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham delivered a stunning last-minute goal to secure victory against German outfit Union Berlin.
The Santiago Bernabeu erupted in joy as Bellingham's strike in the 94th minute sealed a 1-0 victory for Los Merengues.
This game marked a significant moment for Bellingham, who made headlines with his €103 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid earlier in June.
Los Blancos had their share of missed opportunities as Joselu and Rodrygo both saw their attempts agonizingly rebound off the goalpost. However, the perseverance of the Spanish La Liga giants paid off, allowing them to claim the top spot in Group C, at least for the time being.
Joselu, who played the entire 90 minutes against Union, expressed his thoughts on the match, saying, "We deserved the win. We were in control of the game for the majority of the match and we had the best chances. The ball didn't go in before the 94th minute, but we persisted and the team kept believing, as always. You can never give up."
He continued, emphasizing the importance of unwavering belief: "The team has to believe and always believe. We played well in the first half and in the second, the team went all out and pushed for the win. We had the clearest chances, and two or three shots hit the post. The ball was eventually going to go in. The important thing today was to get a first win in the Champions League, and we managed to do it."
Union Berlin proved to be formidable opponents with their defensive tactics, playing with a solid line of five and a compact line of four in front of them. Despite the challenge, Madrid secured three crucial points to kickstart their Champions League campaign.
Joselu praised Bellingham's match-winning contribution: "He's outstanding. He's there at the right time. I think it's the second or third goal he's scored like that. We're really pleased for him and because today he was important for us to get the three points.
"I'm very happy. I would've liked to mark it with a goal, but the important thing is the team. We worked well and managed to win. That's what we need to do," Joselu added.
