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Jude Bellingham's second-half appearance in Tuesday night's 2–1 loss to Bayern Munich raised plenty of questions about why the English midfielder wasn't named in the starting lineup for the Champions League quarterfinal first leg.
Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa selected a midfield consisting of Arda Güler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde and—perhaps most surprisingly given the magnitude of the match—18-year-old Thiago Pitarch.
Madrid failed to assert control for much of the opening hour and found themselves two goals down, with Luis Díaz and Harry Kane netting on either side of the interval.
Bellingham—with England boss Thomas Tuchel watching from the stands—was brought on just after the 60-minute mark in place of Pitarch, and delivered an eye-catching cameo as the home side mounted a comeback through Kylian Mbappé's 74th-minute strike.
Arbeloa Tells Bellingham the Starting XI Is Not His Right
During his post-match press conference, Arbeloa was pressed on his decision to leave a seasoned performer like Bellingham out of the lineup for such a pivotal fixture.
Arbeloa cited Bellingham's recent injury troubles, noting that the 22-year-old had featured only sparingly in recent weeks, while also emphasizing that no player is automatically entitled to a starting berth regardless of their reputation.
"Earning a starting spot isn't a right," Arbeloa told reporters, via AS.
He continued: "He's a player who has been sidelined for quite some time. It's not that I enjoy leaving him on the bench. I have no doubts about him or my confidence in him. We've spoken at length about how his reintegration into the squad should look and about gradually rebuilding his sharpness.
"It makes sense, and I wish he could have played 90 minutes since I took charge. He has contributed so much because we needed someone like him—a player capable of handling Bayern's intense pressing, carrying the ball forward, and beating defenders. I'm delighted with the energy, character, and personality he showed us.
"I can see he's in much better shape, and I'm confident he'll make a big difference in Munich."
Bellingham's Diminishing Impact Due to Injuries
Bellingham's influence in the Spanish capital has clearly diminished as a result of his persistent injury woes. His debut season at Real Madrid produced a remarkable 19 La Liga goals, though he was limited to just 28 outings due to a shoulder injury—which required surgery in the summer of 2025—and an ankle problem.
The 2024–25 season saw him miss six matches through a muscular complaint, and Bellingham has endured two extended spells on the treatment table this campaign. As a result, he has featured just 31 times across all competitions, with his goal tally dropping to a modest six—a significant step back from his first two seasons in the Spanish capital.
The Stourbridge-born midfielder has long been tipped as a future Ballon d'Or contender, but there remains a considerable journey ahead before Bellingham can recapture his previous heights. Real Madrid will be hoping he can showcase his best qualities when they travel to Munich for the second leg of their quarterfinal clash with Bayern next Wednesday.