Real Madrid hit by Jude Bellingham injury scare ahead of derby date with cross-city rivals Atletico

The England international midfielder has been in sensational form for the Blancos since completing a €103 million (£89m/$110m) summer transfer from Borussia Dortmund. Bellingham has scored six and assisted one of Real’s 11 goals so far this season.

Losing him to an untimely ailment would put a serious spanner in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans heading into a meeting with Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday. The sight of Bellingham having to leave training early on Friday was a most unwelcome one for all of those at Santiago Bernabeu.

According to AS, the 20-year-old playmaker was struggling with a stomach complaint. It is unclear at this time whether the problem was muscular or illness. Real’s medical team are said to be confident that Bellingham will be ready for La Liga duty this weekend.

Ancelotti is already without Dani Carvajal, Vinicius Junior, Arda Guler, Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois, but has guided his side to five successive victories in the Spanish top-flight – with a perfect record putting them top of the table – while also collecting a 1-0 win over Union Berlin in their Champions League opener for 2023-24.