Madrid secure dramatic Champions League victory
Bellingham produced a man-of-the-match performance as Madrid claimed a hard-fought 3-2 victory away to AEK Athens in the Champions League. The English midfielder sparked a crucial comeback for Mourinho's side on a challenging night in Greece.
The England international ignited the comeback by scoring an equalizer with a backheel in the 32nd minute, following Aboubakary Koita’s opening goal for AEK just 12 minutes into the match. In the second half, Stavros Pilios restored AEK’s lead in the 75th minute, but Madrid managed to level the score three minutes later through Kylian Mbappe. Ultimately, the winning goal for Los Blancos arrived in the final moments; Federico Valverde got his name on the scoresheet with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area, securing all three points for the visitors.
Bellingham hails elite Real Madrid winning mentality
Bellingham was quick to praise the collective spirit of the squad after the final whistle. He believes their relentless drive is exactly what they need to achieve success this term.
"A very tough game," Bellingham stated on the club's official website. "We worked hard to win this and came back twice. A very important victory on our journey in this season's Champions League.
"Another comeback, but this is the Real Madrid mentality and the mindset we need to maintain for the rest of the season. We're heading to Valencia with great enthusiasm, and hopefully, we can win because the most important match is the next one."
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Midfielder reacts to vital Cucurella and Valverde contributions
Bellingham's opening strike was set up by team-mate Marc Cucurella, who delivered a precise pass for the Englishman to finish. Reflecting on his own effort, Bellingham noted: "It was instinct and a bit of quality. It was a great ball from Marc."
However, it was Valverde's sensational winning strike that truly caught the eye. Bellingham was full of admiration for his midfield partner's remarkable technical ability.
"Much better than mine," Bellingham admitted when asked about Valverde's goal. "It's no surprise that Fede shoots like that, but it was a very important goal for us, as you could see in the team's reaction. We're very happy with the three points."
Mourinho shifts focus to crucial Valencia clash
Mourinho's squad must now quickly turn their attention back to domestic duties. Madrid are scheduled to face Valencia at the Mestalla in Liga this Saturday. Los Blancos currently sit third in the league standings, having collected 27 points from their opening 11 matches. A victory this weekend is vital as they look to close the three-point gap on current leaders Barcelona.