Jude Bellingham’s return to the impactful identity he showcased upon his arrival in Spanish football, alongside the tactical adjustment by Carlo Ancelotti due to Kylian Mbappé’s absence, positions the English midfielder closer to the opponent’s area once again. This shift demands goals from a player who has an outstanding debt to settle in the upcoming derby.

Just as Bellingham made his mark from the very first clásico with a stunning long-range strike in a double against Barcelona, he has now gone four Madrid derbies without a stellar performance. Although he has always been a starter, he has not contributed any goals. None of the nine scored by his team in the four major clashes last season bore his signature.

Moreover, the two major frustrations of last season, the only defeats with his new club, were felt by Jude against Atlético Madrid. He was effectively shut down in his derby debut at the Metropolitano, where Diego Simeone’s marking tactics first managed to halt the historic start of a player who joined Real Madrid after Karim Benzema’s departure and quickly adapted to a more advanced position than he had played in German football.

Bellingham faced his first major derby on September 24, 2023, the date of Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s last league defeat, after scoring in the first four matchdays of LaLiga EA Sports. He remained goal-less only in the fifth against Real Sociedad and had provided a last-minute winner in the Champions League opener against Union Berlin.

He faded into the background during his debut at the Metropolitano, grappling with a shared marking scheme by Mario Hermoso, José María Giménez, and Stefan Savic, resulting in one of Bellingham’s dullest performances of the season. Real Madrid felt the impact, suffering a harsh defeat and losing their lead in the standings. The atmosphere in the stands was festive as they toppled their eternal rival, leading to a moment of frustration for Bellingham.

Jude should have been sent off in his first derby after responding to Ángel Correa with a heavy tackle. He lunged in to cut off a counterattack with excessive force and caught the Argentine forward’s left ankle, injuring him. He was only cautioned with a yellow card.

His second frustration came after a much brighter performance that nonetheless could not prevent Real Madrid’s elimination from the Copa del Rey at the hands of Atlético. Bellingham was the leader of the Madrid attack, dictating play, connecting with teammates, and crafting a move where he evaded two opponents before hitting the crossbar with a left-footed shot. He assisted a goal, but Ancelotti’s side succumbed to fatigue in extra time, losing 4-2.

The only triumph in Bellingham’s four encounters with Atlético came during the Supercopa de España, where they won 5-3 without any goals from Jude. The most recent match, with Carlo Ancelotti’s team on the verge of a definitive step towards the title in February, ended in a 1-1 draw after Marcos Llorente equalized in the 93rd minute at Santiago Bernabéu.