Jude Bellingham And Rodrygo Shines As Real Madrid Cruise Past Cádiz To Regain Top Spot In LaLiga. {WATCH HIGHLIGHTS}

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CADIZ 0-3 REAL MADRID

Real Madrid move top of LaLiga following a commanding 3-0 victory over lowly Cadiz at Nuevo Mirandilla on Sunday night courtesy of Rodrygo's brace and Jude Bellingham goal.

Los Blancos were dealt with severe blows, with key players Vinicius Junior and Eduardo Camavinga suffering long-term injuries while on international duty with Brazil and France respectively.

They joined goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and Aurelien Tchouameni on the sidelines.

Ancelotti started Toni Kroos in defensive midfield and brought veteran playmaker Luka Modric into the team for only his fifth start in La Liga.

Bellingham also returned after missing two league games and England’s Euro qualifiers with a shoulder injury.

Despite the injury-ravaged squad that seem not to affect Real, who dominated the opening stages, and went ahead after 14 minutes when Rodrygo Goes cut into the penalty area and fired a superb shot into the top right corner.

The Brazilian winger struggled for goals at the start of the season but manager Carlo Ancelotti kept faith in him and with Vincius injury, he will be crucial for the Madrid team in the coming weeks.

His goal mean he has scored in three consecutive games for the first time since arriving at the club in 2019.

As if that was not enough, Rodrygo got his second goal in the 64th minute with another fine shot after finding space in the box before setting up Bellingham who sealed the 3-0 win in the 74th minute with his 11th league goal of the season, and 14 goals in all competitions.

No player has ever scored more goals for Real Madrid in their first official 15 matches with the Spanish gaints. He surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo and Di Stéfano 13 goals each.

With the job done, Ancelotti withdrew both goalscorers and handed young forward Gonzalo Garcia his debut.

“I’m grateful and happy, since I was little I’ve been a Real Madrid fan and I’ve dreamed of playing with the first team,” Garcia, 19, told Real Madrid TV.

“I’ll keep the shirt and I’ll ask my team-mates to sign it.”

The only negative note for Madrid was Luka Modric going off with what Ancelotti confirmed was a muscular overload.

"It's an important moment in the season," Ancelotti told a news conference. 

"We have some very important games until Christmas. Today's game gives me a lot of confidence for the next matches.

"So far this season we have done very well, the team has always been competitive, we have won a lot of games.

"Sometimes the difficulties can be an extra motivation and the players have understood that very well," Real's Italian manager added.

"All the injuries we have are of very important players, but we have managed well and the team has been very good on the pitch.

"Rodrygo made the difference in today's game, he had a good game with a good attitude, we are happy," 

"Bellingham is fine. His shoulder still hurts but he is playing with protection and he is fine. He played a very good game today," said Ancelotti referring to the England midfielder who missed his country's last two Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Real Madrid are now on 35 points, one clear of second-placed Girona who host Athletic Bilbao on Monday.

Atletico Madrid are in third place, having also played a game less than Real, level on 31 points with Barcelona, who slipped to fourth after a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS:

Cádiz CF 0-3 Real Madrid CF

Real Madrid win comfortably in Cádiz.

🎞️ Watch #CádizRealMadrid highlights here 👇#LALIGATV | #LALIGAHighlights pic.twitter.com/x2fdzx1ReI

— LALIGA TV (@LaLigaTV) November 26, 2023

Los Blancos will look to build on their present momentum when they return to Champions League action at home to Italian champions Napoli in Group C on Wednesday night, having already qualified for the knockout stages, but are looking to secure top spot.

Meanwhile, Cadiz will look to end their nine-match winless streak away at Mallorca in LaLiga on Wednesday night.

Earlier on Sunday, Marcelino Garcia Toral enjoyed a 3-0 win on his return to La Liga management as Villarreal boss, with Jose Luis Morales’ hat-trick in the 57, 71, and 80th minutes gave the host a 3-1 win Over Osasuna.

Real Sociedad earned a 2-1 win at Sevilla, who had Sergio Ramos and Jesus Navas sent off.

Real Betis also secured a narrow 1-0 win over Las Palmas, courtesy of a lone goal from Willian José in the 19th minute.