Eder Militao – In a Class of His Own
How many athletes — let alone footballers — could come back from back-to-back ACL tears, one in each knee, after nearly 24 months out of consistent elite action, and perform at the level Eder Militao has
shown this season?
The center-back has had ups and downs in form before, but when fit and focused, few can match his talent. For me, Militao was the MVP against Barcelona alongside Jude Bellingham (more on the Englishman later). Maybe we all took his importance to this team for granted.
Having one of the best center-backs in the world, particularly one with the physical and athletic qualities to defend with 70 yards of space behind him, would transform any team. Credit to Militao for the way he’s come back, and God bless the Militao family for those genetics.
Jude Bellingham – Big Game Player
It’s often said that big players relish the biggest occasions, that they shine brightest when the pressure is on and the world is watching. That’s true of Jude Bellingham.
Many were too quick to discredit him after returning from injury. Ask any player: it takes weeks, sometimes months, to fully regain match rhythm. Against Barcelona, Bellingham looked like himself again — a goal, an assist, and a penalty won. The assist was outrageous: first, he fakes out Eric Garcia with a feint as if he is going to run forward. He then sends Pedri the other direction with a step over. And by the time he is facing forward to make the pass, he only needs half a second to pick the killer ball to Mbappe. Jude Bellingham is without a doubt one of the best players in the world.
Xabi Alonso – Tactically Perfect
Xabi Alonso needed this win to give his project breathing room. The Basque coach openly acknowledged that the Clasico provides more than just three points. Most coaches try to downplay the stakes; Xabi didn’t. He embraced them.
Before the match, Alonso revealed that he had “studied last season’s matches.” His decision to field Camavinga as a right midfielder was a masterstroke. With Fede, Jude, and Camavinga all operating down the right channel — historically Madrid’s weaker side — he injected control and balance.
That structure limited Lamine Yamal on the opposite wing, cutting off his preferred diagonal passes to the weak side. Camavinga’s role was simple: keep it clean, defend with intensity, and feed Jude in transition. The Frenchman completed a rare “10” in pass correlations to Bellingham, consistently threading vertical balls into the Englishman’s feet and letting him create from there.
The Trio Finally Synced
For the first time since becoming teammates, all three of Mbappe, Jude, and Vinicius delivered big-game performances in the same match. The question now: can they do it consistently?
If so, Madrid’s ceiling goes through the roof. With those three in rhythm, no team in Europe can match their attacking quality.
