Bellingham was the standout figure for Real Madrid in Barcelona on Saturday night. Three days later, he is the biggest question mark on Mourinho’s team sheet.
The England midfielder opened the scoring at RCDE Stadium by heading home an Arda Güler free-kick, setting Madrid on their way to a 2-1 win secured by substitute Carlos Espí in the 90th minute. LiveScore’s player ratings put Bellingham top of the pile with an 8.0 mark.
He was replaced in the 80th minute and left the field with ice already strapped to the ankle.
A late call before Wednesday
Spanish journalist Arancha Rodríguez, filing from Madrid’s return to training at Valdebebas on Monday morning, was cautious.
Read also: Chelsea make surprise move in Italy
“Madrid return to training this Monday at 10 am. We’re keeping an eye on Bellingham, who we saw finishing the match against Espanyol with ice on his ankle. Let’s hope it was just a knock and that he’ll be available for Wednesday,” she told Madrid Universal.
Sportsmole’s preview expects him to start at the Santiago Bernabéu, but that depends on how the ankle responds to Tuesday’s session.
A midfield already short of bodies
Bellingham’s doubt lands on a squad already dealing with muscle problems. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Endrick, both nursing muscle issues, remain doubts for Wednesday alongside Thiago Pitarch. Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Raúl Asencio are all sidelined.
If Bellingham cannot start, the cleanest fix is to slot Fede Valverde deeper alongside Bernardo Silva and push Güler into the No. 10 role behind Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. Vinícius was graded 6.0 at Espanyol; Mbappé, still shaking off preseason, took a 5.5. Neither has looked sharp enough yet to carry an opening night at the Bernabéu without a driving figure in front of them.
Read also: FIFA rebellion explodes: More and more nations are turning their backs on Infantino
Mourinho’s home welcome
Wednesday is Mourinho’s first competitive night at the Bernabéu since his previous spell at the club ended in 2013. His return was confirmed by Real Madrid on 11 June, and his first game back ended in a stoppage-time winner in Cornellà. A first home fixture of his second Real Madrid era now hinges on an ankle assessment his medical staff will make on Tuesday.
Real Sociedad, missing long-term absentee Álvaro Odriozola, travel to Chamartín on Wednesday.
Read also: “I wanted to stay”: Dybala answers doubts with historic Roma masterclass
