Jude Bellingham scored his sixth goal in six games to give Real Madrid a 1-0 Champions League victory over Union Berlin in their opening match of Group C. Nacho claimed that Bellingham “was born to play for Real Madrid” after the match.
After Federico Valverde’s attempt was deflected in the 94th minute on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham capitalized on a loose ball in the six-yard box to deny the Bundesliga team a point in their inaugural match.
The England international has scored in five of his six games for Real Madrid thus far; his lone blank came in Sunday’s 2-1 league victory over Real Sociedad.
“I think Jude was born to play for Real Madrid,” club captain Nacho told Movistar. “We’re lucky to have him here with us. Let’s hope he keeps scoring goals.”
After his 95th-minute winner against Getafe on September 2, Bellingham’s goal against Union Berlin marked the second time he has helped Madrid win a game in extra time at the Bernabeu.
“We were patient,” Bellingham told Movistar. “We knew we’d get chances at the end of the game. We had to move the ball, find spaces. We kept going, we showed a great mentality, great togetherness.”
Bellingham had a total of 14 goals last season for Borussia Dortmund and six so far this year.
“Around the pitch I want to be an artist, I want to try to create stuff for my teammates, but when the ball goes into the box I want to be a killer,” he said. “That’s what’s going to win us games. Hopefully it continues.”
Bellingham was chosen by manager Carlo Ancelotti in a more advanced No. 10 position to maximize his goal-scoring potential.
“Bellingham has quality, that’s very important, and he has luck,” Ancelotti said in his post-match news conference. “This goal was similar to the one against Getafe. He always arrives at the right time. He’s smarter than the rest.”
