Jude Bellingham marked the grand opening of Real Madrid's refurbished Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with a 95th-minute winner, snatching a 2-1 win against Getafe on Saturday afternoon.
Getafe had battled valiantly, devising a specific plan to try and nullify Bellingham only to be undone at the death by Madrid's new saviour. In the right place, at the right time once again, Bellingham tucked in his fifth goal in four games for Madrid just as his side threatened to drop points for the first time this season.
After another match-winning contribution against Celta Vigo last weekend, Bellingham had written on social media: "Looking forward to seeing my new home." Eventually, he enjoyed his first appearance at the Bernabeu.
How the game unfolded
Former Real Madrid academy graduate Borja Mayoral silenced the crowd that had once - briefly - cheered his name. Fran Garcia epitomised Madrid's skittish backline with a leaden-footed pass that David Alaba failed to control. Mayoral gobbled up the loose ball and rounded Kepa Arrizabalaga to score Getafe's first open-play goal at the Bernabeu since 2015 after 11 minutes.
Getafe arrived at Madrid's sleek new spaceship of a stadium with a plan from Jose Bordalas' little black book. The visitors lined up with six out-and-out defenders peppered across the pitch. Most formed a blue blockade in front of David Soria's goal but Djene and Omar Alderete took turns man-marking Bellingham.
Real Madrid's star of the season's start was unashamedly roughed up throughout the contest, forever the meat in a blue-bread sandwich. Ironically, the one time Bellingham wasn't fouled the referee blew up for a first-half penalty - although the VAR soon set Mario Melero Lopez straight.
Getafe had brilliantly frustrated Barcelona with a similar approach on the opening weekend of the season, keeping the reigning champions goalless throughout almost half an hour of added time. Real Madrid needed less than two second-half minutes to pierce the visitors' stubborn resolve.
Toni Kroos' half-time substitution sparked a shift in gears. The German forced a corner which Djene could only half-clear, teeing up Joselu for the first goal of his second spell in the Spanish capital. In a furious restart, Kroos clattered the base of the post himself and was denied from close range on the rebound.
Soria came under siege in the second half, guarding a goal in front of a stand packed only with white shirts where large sheets of tarpaulin had been last season. After eight miraculous saves, Getafe's beleaguered keeper failed to gather Lucas Vazquez's late, late shot, spilling into the path of the inevitable Bellingham.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-3-1-2)
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 4/10 - Easily rounded by the hardly agile Mayoral.
RB: Dani Carvajal - 5/10 - Tasked with ploughing up and down the right flank throughout, Carvajal got a second wind from somewhere in the second half.
CB: Antonio Rudiger - 5/10 - Growing up playing in Berlin's football cages, Rudiger wasn't fazed by Getafe's bruising approach - if anything, he seemed to enjoy it a little too much and avoided a potential red card.
CB: David Alaba - 5/10 - Had his head in his hands after his role in the opening goal but Garcia was just as culpable.
LB: Fran Garcia - 2/10 - Guilty of an awful hospital pass that gifted Getafe the lead. Failed to do enough to make up for that error before getting hooked at half-time.
CM: Luka Modric - 6/10 - Much more influential when he drifted infield but Madrid's system naturally pushed the skipper wide.
CM: Aurelien Tchouameni - 4/10 - Always in a rush, Tchouameni never seemed to have full control over his body or the ball.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga - 5/10 - Tried to act as the link between midfield and attack with mixed success.
AM: Jude Bellingham - 8/10 - Every touch was greeted with a roar of approval and anticipation from a Madrid crowd that had a new star, and he responded with yet another winning goal.
ST: Joselu - 6/10 - Took practically the first chance that fell his way well. Much more involved after the break.
ST: Rodrygo - 4/10 - Ran with blinders on, rarely looking up to spot his new strike partner.
Substitutes
SUB: Toni Kroos (46' for Camavinga) - 8/10 - The normally ice-cool midfielder was well and truly fired up, completely changing the complexion of the contest.
SUB: Nacho Fernandez (46' for Garcia) - 6/10 - His arrival allowed Alaba to shuffle across to left-back and gallop forward.
SUB: Brahim Diaz (76' for Modric) - 5/10
SUB: Lucas Vazquez (76' for Carvajal) - 5/10
SUB: Fede Valverde (80' for Tchouameni) - 5/10
Subs not used: Lunin (GK), Gonzalez (GK), Paz, Garcia
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti - 5/10 - The diamond system that Ancelotti has persisted with robs Madrid of any width - forcing a crush of bodies up against Getafe's centrally compact block. The Italian's half-time reshuffle certainly made a difference and he just about emerged unscathed.
Player of the match: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
This article was originally published on 90min as Real Madrid 2-1 Getafe: Player ratings as Bellingham saves the day once again.
