Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 2023-24Getty Images

Real Madrid player ratings vs Celta Vigo: Jude Bellingham is carrying Los Blancos! England youngster provides emphatic goal to seal narrow win after Vinicius Jr injury

Jude Bellingham played hero for Real Madrid for the third game in a row, salvaging his side with a late header to beat a well-organised Celta Vigo outfit. Los Blancos struggled for long periods after Vinicius Jr went off injured, but still managed to grab a tricky 1-0 win away from home. Bellingham has now found the back of the net four times in three outings since the La Liga campaign began.

Celta Vigo had a goal ruled out inside four minutes, with Jorgen Strand Larsen's flick ruled out after Kepa Arrizibalaga was adjudged to have been fouled in the build up. Madrid weren't fortunate for long, though. Vinicius Jr was removed from the game 10 minutes later, going down with an injury to his right thigh.

And they lacked bite without their star man. His substitute, Joselu, came closest in the first half. He had the ball in the net, but was offside by two yards when he received a pass from Jude Bellingham. Another Bellingham pass set up Madrid's best chance of the second half, the Englishman feeding Rodrygo, who was clipped by the Celta Vigo keeper inside the box — only to miss the ensuing penalty.

But when he got a chance of his own, Bellingham took it. The new signing buried Madrid's only goal, diving across his marker to nod home from a well-worked corner routine to sew up a 1-0 win amid an otherwise flat performance.

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