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The tongue is back." Against Cadiz, Jude Bellingham gave the fans a celebration with a certain mystique. He stuck his tongue out and posted that message on his Instagram account. Against Napoli and in the Champions League, we found out why. The English footballer debuted a replica of the legendary Adidas Predator boots with which Zinedine Zidane marked an era. Perhaps nothing is a coincidence. Today's player most similar in style and elegance to the Frenchman has been one of those chosen by the German brand to commemorate one of its most iconic products: the black boots with the red tongue and the Adidas lines in white.

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Champions League 2023 - 2024.

Bellingham leads and Nico Paz scores in Real Madrid's win over Napoli at the Bernabeu

  • Written by: ORFEO SUÁREZ

Bellingham leads and Nico Paz scores in Real Madrid's win over Napoli at the Bernabeu

The lawnmower.

Nico Paz to Ancelotti's embarrassment

  • Written by: JULIÁN RUIZ

Nico Paz to Ancelotti's embarrassment

With them, Bellingham once again made history with Real Madrid. The Briton headed home a perfect cross from Alaba to put the Whites ahead against the Italians. His fourth goal in four games, so many per game. A fact that no one can equal in the history of Chamartín. Not even Cristiano Ronaldo. Jude did not play against Braga but scored against the Portuguese in the neighbouring country, against Napoli in Italy and in Madrid and in the opener against Union Berlin. Counting the six goals scored with Dortmund, he has scored 10 goals in the Champions League. "History repeats itself," Madrid wrote on social media.

"It's hard to compare two different generations. What I see differently is that Bellingham has a finish inside the box that Zidane didn't have, and Zidane had an individual quality that Bellingham doesn't have," reflected Ancelotti, who admitted that "modern football wants players who are physically stronger" and that Jude is "a gift for football." "He has to improve his Spanish, nobody's perfect," he joked.

Bellingham left a goal and a giant scare to the local parish. The midfielder injured his left ankle in a spin and lay on the ground for a minute writhing in pain. 60 seconds that were very long at the Bernabéu. The Englishman has been suffering from shoulder discomfort for days and plays with a bandage, so it didn't seem like the day to risk any mishap. Still, it looked like a minor twist and Bellingham was able to keep playing in the second half.

Rodrygo, on a roll

Another protagonist was Rodrygo Goes, who continues to take advantage of Vinicius' absence to gain importance in Madrid's attack. He equalled Simeone's opening goal, scored his 18th goal in the Champions League, equalled Pirri, broke into the club's Top-10 and became the Brazilian with the most European Cup goals in the team's history. His streak does not stop, he has accumulated 6 goals and 4 assists in his last 4 games and although he withdrew with discomfort, it was nothing more than a small cramp.

The Whites' half-time lead left Ancelotti with only one annoyance: Ceballos' game. It was not the Andalusian's day, who lost several possessions at the start of the match and did not quite fit into a system that centred Valverde, placed Kroos on the left and the former Betis player on the right, supporting Carvajal in defence and somewhat further away from the organisation of the attack. Another loss of his led to a dangerous counter-attack by Napoli and was the Italian coach's first substitution.

The second would be academy graduate Nico Paz, the other great protagonist of the night, to whom Carletto gave an important half hour in the Champions League after the equaliser in Anguissa. First place in the group was at stake and Ancelotti did not tremble. He withdrew Brahim, who suffered several calf cramps after a game in which he had his good moments, and included the young midfielder, who accompanied Valverde and Kroos, perhaps too alone in midfield. He didn't waste it.

"I didn't even know what I was doing"

The final stretch was a Bellingham spectacle and a moment Nico Paz will never forget. The academy graduate came up with a cutback and a left-footed shot that surprised Meret and confirmed Madrid's first place, crowned with a goal from Joselu, who asked for forgiveness after several mistakes. "Nico is a talent, a player of the future. He has contributed in a difficult moment and has all the quality to be here," praised Ancelotti.

The midfielder, born in Tenerife but an international with Argentina, is the son of former footballer Pablo Paz, and at 19 years of age he is already one of the first team. "This is a dream. For a moment I couldn't believe it. I dared, I was in automatic mode and I didn't even know what I was doing... I hit him... And freaking out, really," joked the footballer on the pitch, where he wanted to vindicate the Real Madrid academy: "We have one of the best academies in the world, if not the best. This is what we're here for... and that it serves as a message to the rest of the academy players: this is possible".

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