Alonso hails Bellingham as surpassing expectations after securing Clasico victory

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso praised Jude Bellingham, the hero of the Clasico, following a crucial week where his strikes proved essential for the team, showing he has fully recovered after shoulder surgery.

In the 2-1 La Liga triumph against Barcelona, Bellingham scored Madrid's second and assisted Kylian Mbappe for the opener, coming off his decisive goal in the 1-0 Champions League success over Juventus on Wednesday.

The playmaker sat out the early season weeks due to the procedure addressing a persistent shoulder issue, and he was omitted from England's squad by Thomas Tuchel for October internationals.

"His displays against Juventus, today, and Getafe last weekend were outstanding, with three strong performances in the past seven days," Alonso shared with the press.

"Initially, it takes some matches to build rhythm, yet his progress has exceeded our hopes since the recent international window, when he stayed with us rather than joining his country.

"Bellingham thrives on intuition, interaction, and rapport, which explains his excellent recent outings."

His Juventus strike marked Bellingham's initial goal at the Santiago Bernabeu since April.

Thanks to Bellingham's clincher, Madrid extended their advantage over title holders Barcelona to five points atop the standings, with Mbappe starting the scoring and Fermin Lopez levelling for the away side.

Pre-match buzz centred on remarks from Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, accusing Madrid of theft and whining, though Alonso noted his squad required no added drive to overcome Barca after enduring four losses in last season's Clasicos.

"Our players were highly driven, having discussed the match's significance in advance, beyond merely the points on offer," Alonso clarified.

"More so, considering our background, aiming for a solid performance, a rightful success, and I am delighted for the lads especially as they craved that sensation of conquering a major fixture like the Clasico."

In Alonso's debut Clasico, Madrid saw three strikes ruled out for offside yet dominated the Catalan outfit.

Vinicius Junior shone on the wing for Madrid, though he sparked surprise by protesting loudly upon his withdrawal.

"I prefer not to divert attention from the key aspects... Vinicius contributed immensely, much like his teammates," Alonso remarked.

"This is a significant triumph that might have been more emphatic."