Real Madrid’s pursuit of the La Liga title faces a significant challenge in their upcoming clash against Las Palmas, as the absence of star player Jude Bellingham looms over the match. Bellingham, who has been in sensational form since his £88.5m transfer from Borussia Dortmund, will not be gracing the Canary Islands with his presence.
The English sensation, having netted an impressive 14 goals in 18 La Liga appearances this season, earned high praise from manager Carlo Ancelotti, who went so far as to label him the best player in the world. Bellingham’s impact at the Spanish giants has been undeniable since his move from Birmingham City.
Although the matchup against Las Palmas appears challenging on paper, given their eighth position in La Liga and a mere two home losses this campaign, Real Madrid faces the test without Bellingham. His absence results from receiving his fifth yellow card in the controversial 3-2 victory over Almeria, a match marked by a late fracas following Madrid’s 99th-minute winner, assisted by Bellingham for Dani Carvajal.
La Liga regulations, mirroring those in the Premier League, enforce a one-match suspension for players accumulating five yellow cards before a specific cutoff point. Bellingham’s booking against Almeria marked his ninth caution of the season across all competitions for Madrid.
Despite the setback, Bellingham will return for selection against Getafe next Thursday. Real Madrid, trailing surprise leaders Girona by one point with a game in hand, aims to maintain their title pursuit in Bellingham’s absence.
Examining Real Madrid’s record without Bellingham reveals his significant presence in the team, having missed only four fixtures in all competitions this season. Ancelotti opted to keep him on the bench in the reverse fixture against Las Palmas in September, where Madrid secured a 2-0 victory.
Additionally, Bellingham was a spectator in their 3-0 Champions League group stage win over Braga and remained an unused substitute in the Copa del Rey triumph against Arandina earlier this month. The only match he missed due to injury was the home clash with Valencia in November, where his teammates secured a convincing 5-1 win in his absence due to a shoulder complaint.