Jude Bellingham's drop in form this season, after being one of Real Madrid's top scorers last year, is no coincidence. The main issue lies in his positioning within Carlo Ancelotti's tactical setup, which is limiting his ability to shine as he did before.

In the recent match against Barcelona, both heat maps and average position data showed Bellingham playing out of place. He was often seen operating near the right flank and far too deep, with his positioning on average even behind Lucas Vázquez. This significantly reduced his impact in areas where he could be much more influential and decisive.

Bellingham's involvement was overly concentrated on the right side and in his own half, far from where he could use his offensive strengths and creativity. The passing maps further revealed that he made very few passes in dangerous areas, leaving him disconnected from the opponent's goal. His lackluster performance can be traced back to his misplacement within Ancelotti's system.

He was preoccupied with neutralizing Alejandro Balde, forcing him to drop back frequently. This defensive duty drained him both physically and mentally, turning him into a shadow of the decisive player who was so impressive last season. While Bellingham reached nearly 20 goals last year, this season he has yet to score, a fact that doesn't seem to concern Ancelotti.

The issue is not with Bellingham's effort, as he continues to give his all, but with his management. Ancelotti must adjust his tactics and return Bellingham to a position where he can truly make an impact—whether in the center or on the left—where he has already proven he can perform at a world-class level. Real Madrid cannot afford to waste Bellingham’s immense talent.

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