Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala have been placed on the proverbial scale following Real Madrid's high-stakes UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg tie against Bayern Munich.
The rising stars, often hailed as the future torchbearers of football post Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, collided on Tuesday, April 30, each hoping to have a lasting impact on the grand stage.
How Bellingham, Musiala performed in UCL semis
While Musiala dazzled with an impressive performance, drawing a crucial foul that led to a penalty for Bayern Munich, Bellingham struggled to make his mark for Los Blancos this time around.
According to Statman Dave, the German attacker completed five dribbles and won a penalty, one less than the entire Real Madrid team combined, showcasing his brilliance on the big occasion.
Jamal Musiala completed 5 dribbles (winning 1 penalty) this evening, one fewer than the entire Real Madrid side managed combined (6).
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 30, 2024
Had Real Madrid on skates. 🛼🛼🛼 pic.twitter.com/aVICujy7d0
In contrast, Bellingham, who has been a standout performer for Madrid throughout the season, failed to shine.
As per Sofascore, the English prodigy was substituted in the 75th minute without managing a shot on target and only providing one key pass, underscoring his sub-par display.
With the second leg looming and both young talents poised for another showdown, fans have already begun to weigh in on their performance from the first leg, sparking debates about who outshone the other at the Allianz Arena.
Bellingham vs Musiala: Who is better?
@a_mugeez claimed:
"Musiala is far better than Bellingham."
@Uzor96 suggested the Bayern Munich star has always been heads and shoulders above the Real Madrid star:
"Musiala has always been better."
@AndersonMaguir4 lavished praise on Musiala while making light of Bellingham's name:
"Musiala is one of the best dribblers in the world. What a player. He showed Smellingham, who is the better player today."
@Emerald_mf suggested Bellingham is an overhyped player:
"Nothing special about him, just Madrid PR."
@luiskatunda added:
"Bellingham is a very normal player."
What was the scoreline: Bayern vs Real?
Vinicius Junior put the visitors ahead in the first half, but Leroy Sane and a Harry Kane penalty reversed the momentum of the game.
Nonetheless, the Brazilian equalised with a penalty of his own to bring the scores level, sitting evenly poised at 2-2 ahead of the return leg.
Bellingham attempts to unsettle Harry Kane
While he failed to make his mark in the semi-final showdown between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Bellingham attempted to unsettle Harry Kane during a penalty attempt.
As reported by Sports Brief, the English captain remained composed and confidently converted the ensuing penalty, marking his 43rd goal of the season across all competitions.
