Real Madrid v Barcelona: El Clasico's English sub-plot as Bellingham to face Rashford

Among Real Madrid supporters, Jude Bellingham is already a hero. Since being injured and asking questions regarding his place in England's World Cup squad, the 22-year-old midfielder has had a rough start to the season. However, as he prepares for El Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday, the former Birmingham City manager, as well as Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel, is still England's top man in La Liga. With Barcelona's in-form forward Marcus Rashford facing Bellingham, it is expected to be the first El Clasico to feature two English players in opposition. Madrid's third - Real full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold - is unlikely due to injury, as Madrid looks to stretch their two-point lead over their bitter rivals. An El Clasico in Bellingham makes the most convincing advant to make a statement. More than 80,000 fans will gather inside the Bernabeu stadium, with the majority being passionate Madridistas. Tuchel will be seen in Bellingham's eyes and the eyes of more than 650 million viewers.

Perfect occasion to earn England recall

Bellingham has won most of the La Liga and Champions League since joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in 2023. His outstanding results haven't been limited to club football, as shown by his overhead kick against Slovakia in stoppage time against Slovakia at last year's Euros, was just one example of him rising to the occasion for his country. He has played in three major tournaments, served in the camp's leadership team, and was named England's player of the year by supporters in 2024-25. However, Bellingham was left out of Tuchel's squad's victory over Wales and Latvia earlier in October. The England manager maintained that there was no personal issue between them, and that the decision was solely about keeping the core of the squad that had performed well during the September fixtures against Andorra and Serbia. Tuchel said he would speak to Bellingham before the next camp in November, and it would be likely that the most significant news about the squad pick would be if he is recall. Bellingham has the perfect opportunity to show his worth on the defending champions of Barcelona's visit.

'Nothing to prove to anyone but himself'

Bellingham's start to the season was always difficult, with shoulder surgery in July for a long-running injury he suffered in 2023. He missed 63 days of preparation and playing, including five for Los Blancos. In his first appearance back in late September, he was welcomed to the pitch with a roar as his return to the Madridistas thrilled the Madridias. Bellingham has nothing to prove on Sunday, Real supporter Carlos Campillo said.

He already does that with every game he plays in and every assist he receives. He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone but himself. Juan Antonio Lillo, a fellow, said:

It's not a decisive game for him. He has to keep up the speed and getting a feel for the game. It's just one more step toward getting to where he wants to be at, and it's likely that sooner or later.

Since Bellingham's return to action, he has appeared in six more games in all competitions, slowly increasing his minutes and finding his best form. For the most part, his fame was limited - until this week, where his match-winning goal against Juventus reignited the Bernabeu's faith - and perhaps his too. Bellingham told US broadcaster CBS,

It's a great feeling, a long time since I've scored, putting in a lot of time out and wishing for the moment, back in the Champions League and against a major team.

It's incredible to see a winner at home. I felt comfortable, really good. To play well, it was crucial, and scoring the winning goal helps the team a lot.

Bellingham shone in his debut season at the Bernabeu, scoring 19 goals in La Liga, but his form dropped marginally in 2024-25 as Madrid ended the season without a major trophy. I didn't think last year was a disaster, he said.

It was] still 15 goals and 14 assists, but I knew the general consensus was that it was worse. But I was involved in that, but I was also aware of the fact that we didn't do as well last year as well.

There were still good times, but not at the level I want to play at, not the first year. Now that I've had my shoulder surgery and a new boss, he's got the shape we want, and how we want to play.

Time for more heroics against Barcelona?

Rashford, who is still hoping to earn a World Cup spot with England while on loan from Manchester United, will be experiencing an El Clasico for the first time, but Bellingham is an old hand.

It's like playing in a final - a win in El Clasico feels like that,

Campillo said. Bellingham has scored three times in his four El Clasico appearances, two in his first and one in his second. He was the first Real player to score in his first two La Liga Clasicos since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2007 - a feat that quickly etched his name into the club's history books. In every fixture, he has played the full match. What better time to unleash his magic against Barcelona once more?

'Recovery key to a better Real Madrid'

Jude Bellingham's international break came at the right time. Xabi Alonso was delighted to have him around, not only to help him regain full fitness but also to talk face to face about his work. Bellingham's boss sees them as a hybrid - part midfielder and part forward - operating just behind Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe. But Alonso's goal now is to recover Bellingham's first iteration - the one that arrived in the box with precise timing and scored freely. The Englishman's role in the last season grew so much that he was everywhere - and, in the end, less efficient. Alonso's message has been straightforward: do less to be more. The statistics back up the rethink - with Vinicius, Mbappe, and Bellingham all starting, the team failed to win 17 of their 30 matches. Bellingham was left on the bench against Kairat Almaty and Villarreal due to a lack of frontal defense and lack of unity in attack. Following the international break, he returned to the starting line-up against Getafe and is set to begin against Barcelona. He will play a key role in the team's greater flexibility and threat alongside Arda Guler. He is still not at his best, but recovering it is seen as vital to a better Real Madrid.