El Clasico: Ilkay Gundogan Scores Debut Barcelona Goal Against Real Madrid

• Ilkay Gundogan scored his maiden Barcelona goal against Real Madrid
• Gundogan has featured in all 11 La Liga games thus far
• Regrettably, his goal was not enough as Madrid came from a goal down to grab the bragging rights in El Clasico

In the first clash of the 2023-2024 El Clasico at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on a Saturday afternoon, Ilkay Gundogan finally scored his first goal against Real Madrid, albeit belatedly.

Gundogan, who transferred to Barcelona following his instrumental role in Manchester City's historic treble-winning season, managed to break the deadlock by skillfully manoeuvring the ball past the advancing Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The 29-year-old seized an opportunity after a fortunate deflection from David Alaba's unsuccessful clearance following an initial give-and-go pass with a teammate at Barca.

With composure, Gundogan calmly netted the ball from close range six minutes into the game, prompting a wave of jubilation in the stadium, as cited by Fan Nation.

Griezmann treble against Celta takes Atletico second

Football

This goal not only marked the opening score but also represented his inaugural strike for the Catalan giants since his summer transfer.

According to GOAL, the 33-year-old has now scored in Der Klassiker, the Manchester derby and now El Clasico.

Gundogan names El Clasico all-time XI

In preparation for the much-anticipated match, players have been prompted to assemble their ultimate El Clasico XI, prompting insightful discussions within the sporting community.

Notably, former Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan recently shared his ideal lineup for this prestigious encounter in an interview with One Football.

In a surprising revelation, the 33-year-old midfielder's envisioned team prominently featured players from Barcelona, with only two representatives from Real Madrid.

Gundogan's preferred formation was a dynamic 3-4-3, with Marc Andre Ter Stegen taking charge of the goalkeeping duties and a robust defensive trio composed of Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique, and Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos.

Sergio Ramos: Rudiger laughs in ex Los Blancos star's face during Real Madrid vs Sevilla showdown

Football

Bellingham stuns Gundogan, Barcelona in El Clasico

Sports Brief also reported that in his debut La Liga Clasico, Jude Bellingham's remarkable double secured Real Madrid a thrilling 2-1 comeback triumph over Barcelona on Saturday.

The young English talent, who has impressively showcased his goal-scoring prowess since joining Madrid, first unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner from a distance, answering Ilkay Gundogan's earlier goal for the hosts at the Olympic Stadium.

Bellingham further solidified Madrid's victory by scoring a second goal in stoppage time, effectively silencing the Barcelona fans and reaching a tally of 10 goals in the top flight for the season.