Jude Bellingham insisted Actual Madrid could be prepared for whoever they must face within the Champions League play-offs and that the reigning champions are “beginning to click on” after their 3-0 win in Brest on Wednesday.
Bellingham scored Actual’s second aim in between a double strike from Rodrygo because the Spanish giants proved too robust for the French upstarts in Guingamp.
It was a 3rd straight win to complete the league section of the Champions League for Actual after they began with three defeats of their first 5 outings, and that poor begin is what led to them coming eleventh within the standings.
They completed some extent exterior the highest eight locations which provided direct qualification for the final 16, and subsequently enter Friday’s draw for the additional play-off spherical.
They already know that they are going to face both Manchester Metropolis or Celtic within the play-offs in February, with the winners over two legs advancing to the final 16 in March.
“It was vital to get the win and end the group stage robust. I feel we in all probability let ourselves down in a couple of of the video games and that’s why now we have ended up” within the play-offs, Bellingham advised UEFA.com.
“No downside, we’ll attempt to face no matter impediment comes with a greater face and you’ll see that we’re positively beginning to click on as a staff in the previous few weeks.”
Carlo Ancelotti’s facet have received their final 5 matches in all competitions since a 5-2 pasting by the hands of Barcelona within the Spanish Tremendous Cup last in Saudi Arabia on January 12.
Rodrygo opened the scoring in opposition to Brest simply earlier than the half-hour mark for Actual with a low shot throughout goalkeeper Marco Bizot and in off the far publish, moments after the Brazilian had a header expertly saved.
– Mbappe scoring run ends –
The guests had been lacking Vinicius Junior via suspension and Kylian Mbappe was not on scoring type, having beforehand netted eight occasions within the final 5 video games.
However that did not matter, as Actual survived seeing Brest’s Ludovic Ajorque have a aim disallowed for a good offside simply after half-time earlier than they went 2-0 forward on 56 minutes.
Bellingham, the participant of the match, sparked a breakaway after which arrived within the field to complete off Lucas Vazquez’s low centre.
Rodrygo then scored once more on 78 minutes, claiming a brace in a second straight Champions League sport, after Mbappe’s shot was saved.
“I feel we overlook who scores the targets and that form of factor as a result of we all know that every sport it will likely be another person, whether or not it is Rodrygo’s two and me one tonight, whether or not it is Kylian with three the opposite day,” Bellingham added.
“Somebody will all the time step up with a little bit of particular person brilliance and the remainder of us will concentrate on the organisation of the staff.
“That’s perhaps what we lacked in a couple of of the early group video games but it surely appears to be getting higher over the previous few weeks.”
Actual certified from the league section regardless of defeats in opposition to Lille, AC Milan and Liverpool, and Bellingham gave the brand new format a thumbs up general.
“It has been good enjoying extra groups of a better high quality and an actual blended group of groups from throughout Europe. It is good to have a bit extra jeopardy,” he stated.
Brest are additionally via to the play-off spherical after a memorable first ever European marketing campaign which has seen them end 18th within the desk, above the likes of Juventus and Manchester Metropolis, regardless of dropping their final two video games.
They may play both French rivals Paris Saint-Germain or Benfica within the subsequent spherical.
“We need to hold going, make much more historical past than now we have already, and if we are able to proceed to get outcomes, why not,” stated Bizot.
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