Real Madrid Must Unleash Bellingham to Conquer Their Dreaded Bogey Team

Jude Bellingham has looked like a frustrated presence at Real Madrid this season.

The midfielder—who has managed just one goal this calendar year—has largely struggled to reproduce his finest form throughout 2025–26, with injuries further disrupting an already inconsistent campaign.

He has drawn criticism from unhappy supporters and pundits alike, and even his place in England's starting lineup has been challenged by the likes of Morgan Rogers, as the dazzling heights of his debut season in 2023–24 seem increasingly distant.

Nevertheless, even when not operating at his peak, it remains evident that Madrid sorely miss Bellingham during his absences.

The former Dortmund star was considered not fully fit to start the Champions League quarterfinal first leg loss to Bayern Munich at the Bernabéu, with 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch getting the nod in midfield instead.

While Pitarch could not be faulted personally, Madrid failed to assert themselves in the match and found themselves 2–0 down by the hour mark, at which point Bellingham was introduced as a substitute.

The Englishman made an instant impression upon entering the fray, injecting energy and intent into Madrid's midfield and helping to spark a comeback as Kylian Mbappé struck on 74 minutes to make it 2–1 on the night, offering some optimism ahead of the return fixture in Bavaria.

Speaking before the second leg, club icon Luís Figo underscored the 22-year-old's value, stating: "For me, Bellingham should always be on the pitch; it's the logical thing to do."

Bellingham's Bayern Blues

Perhaps surprisingly, Bellingham's personal record against Bayern Munich stands in stark contrast to Real Madrid's own head-to-head history.

Before last week's defeat, Los Blancos had gone unbeaten against Bayern since 2012—a streak spanning nine competitive fixtures. During that period, Madrid knocked the Germans out of the Champions League on four separate occasions (in 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18 and 2023–24). Yet Bellingham himself has come out on the winning side against Munich just once in 11 career appearances against them.

Across eight encounters during his time in Germany, Bellingham's Dortmund suffered seven defeats and managed a single draw, while his sole victory came as a Real Madrid player during the 2023–24 semifinal tie.

The midfielder has also never found the net against Bayern.

Dortmund Heartbreak Lingers

Notably, Bayern were also responsible for one of the most agonizing moments of Bellingham's early career.

His Dortmund side suffered a crucial 4–2 defeat in Munich during the 2022–23 campaign, and ultimately surrendered the Bundesliga title to their rivals on the final day of the season.

That gut-wrenching experience turned out to be Bellingham's swan song at Dortmund, as he completed his transfer to Madrid that summer having never claimed a league title in Germany.

Chance for Revenge

Although his fitness continues to be carefully monitored, Bellingham is anticipated to start in Munich after logging over an hour of action in the 1–1 draw against Girona on Friday.

With Aurélien Tchouaméni suspended for the second leg, Madrid are counting on Bellingham to step up in a pivotal midfield role on Wednesday, delivering the physicality, leadership, and attacking drive needed against Bayern.

If he can build upon his impactful cameo at the Bernabéu in the first leg, he has the opportunity to breathe new life into his season and exact revenge on Bayern by finally laying to rest the demons that have shadowed his young career.