The irony is that if Andre Onana had stayed closer to the goal line, Jude Bellingham would not have lobbed him.

Few could have predicted Bellingham, who was already in the pantheon of those who got away from Manchester United, would kιll the ball as deftly as he did. It made his deft lob seem commonplace.

Onana did not make a mistake, and he will not be discouraged. The Cameroonian made an otherwise solid ‘debut’ in United’s colors, being agile with his shot-stopping and commanding in his own third. Onana’s dҽath was uncomplicated but not extravagant. He charged out of his area once, and the header went wrong but he was not penalised.

‘Champions collide’ was the tagline for this game. Real Madrid has achieved such position three times in the recent decade, and has won the Champions League five times. United? Their title drought will last another 11 years.

Despite ticket prices starting at $80, United managed to draw a respectable crowd in Houston. The NRG Stadium, which hosted the first overseas Manchester derby in 2017, was packed with 67,801 fans, bringing the total attendance for United’s three tour games to 184,311.

More importantly for Erik ten Hag, United’s fitness levels have improved to the point where he avoided making wholesale changes during the pause, since all starters except Kobbie Mainoo got one hour under their belt. Onana and the tireless Bruno Fernandes were there.

Fernandes’ predecessor, Harry Maguire, suffered a familiar ignominy on tour when he was booed by a part of the crowd a year after suffering the same fate at the MCG. United made an earnest attempt to blame it on Australia’s sledging culture. Trash talk is a term used in the United States.

Despite barely beginning their pre-season campaign on Sunday evening with a 3-2 comeback win over AC Milan, Madrid were the more animated of the two teams. Ten Hag changed United’s formation, shifting Fernandes to the right and Mason Mount behind Marcus Rashford. United’s plans were revised almost immediately as a result of Mainoo’s unҽxpected departure.

It was futile to try Rashford as a center forward. There is no evidence of Jadon Sancho consistently thriving on the left wing, and he has two contenders ahead of him there. For more than a decade, it has been known that Rashford is a wide raider.

Facundo Pellistri, Antony and Scott McTominay had notable appearances, presumably emboldened more by Mainoo’s ιnjury than West Ham’s interest. The full-backs for Manchester United were not as watchful against Madrid’s 4-4-2 shape. Wan-Bissaka started the game in midfield but quickly returned to his lane after Vinicius Junior had the ball.

In the 25th minute, Onana wonderfully stopped Vinicius with a left-handed stop. He was at comfortable on the ball, luring Vinicius in to pass to Raphael Varane, and he was also loud, cajoling Lisandro Martinez and berating Wan-Bissaka, who had been tormented by Vinicius on numerous occasions. When United returned for the second half, the animosity was palpable, with Fernandes and Casemiro exchanging opinions.

What should have been a memorable evening for Mainoo ended in the third minute. As a result of Casemiro’s foul, Mainoo received a regretful pat on the back from Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti as he limped towards the tunnel. When Bellingham clipped the ball over Onana, Mainoo had not yet reached it.

Ten Hag wantҽd an offside check from a Video Assistant Referee, but there was none. The replay rҽvealed that Wan-Bissaka was most likely parallel to Bellingham.

Mainoo has surpassed Zidane Iqbal, Fred, and possibly McTominay in the midfield pecking order: gone, gone, gone. That depends on the extent of Mainoo’s injuries. McTominay nearly equalized but fired too close to Andrii Lunin.

A homegrown midfield talent rising to prominence would alleviate some of United’s remorse over Bellingham, a fine performance three years after rejecting the club. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could not guarantee him regular playing time ahead of McTominay and Fred at the time.

Bellingham appears certain to live up to the number five that Zinedine Zidane wore in white. At times, Madrid were lethal, with Vinicius flanked by Rodrygo in a set-up that United struggled to counter.

Lisandro Martinez resorted to brusquely upending Bellingham, who sprang to his feet and shoved the Argentine. It was the only way for United to stop Bellingham, and Martinez was booked for the second friendly in a row after ιllegally stopping Bukayo Saka in New Jersey.

Martinez went off the field when Joselu’s amazing effort won it in the 89th minute. Onana was on his line, helpless.