Jude Bellingham reveals key to Real Madrid comeback chances in UEFA Champions League tie against Arsenal - 'Never seen anything like it in football'

Updated 16/04/2025 at 17:07 GMT+1

Jude Bellingham has backed his Real Madrid side to recover from Arsenal's 3-0 lead as the two sides meet in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final. Declan Rice scored two free kicks to help The Gunners gain a commanding advantage last week, but Bellingham insists he had belief his side would turn it around before he even left North London.

'We can do this' - Bellingham on Arsenal fallout, Rice and Madrid's comeback chances

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Jude Bellingham has opened up on the "crazy" Bernabeu matchday atmosphere that he thinks can drive his team yet again to another unthinkable UEFA Champions League comeback.

Real's opponents Arsenal hold a 3-0 lead from the reverse fixture in London last week as the teams prepare for the second leg - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

But Mikel Arteta's Gunners head to Spain knowing their job is far from done, given who they are facing.

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Bellingham's Real Madrid side have overturned a first-leg deficit to progress in Europe against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in recent years.

The former of those wins included a superb comeback at the Bernabeu, when Carlo Ancelotti's side prevailed 6-5 on aggregate after losing 4-3 at Etihad Stadium.

Bellingham is hoping for more of the same, and says the home fans will have a big part to play.

Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, he said: "Leading into the stadium, you have the fans on the street, the horses, the flares going up. The first time I saw it, I couldn't believe it. I'd never seen anything like it in football.

"Then you get into the stadium. From the warm-up, it's going to be bouncing.

"As soon as the anthem comes on and the fans sing our anthem, it's going to be something crazy. I imagine there's going to be displays and things like that.

"The one thing you know, the consistent thing of our season, will be the fans. I don't have to ask any more of them.

"I know they're going to deliver, and it's our time to repay them."

Highlights: Rice magic as Arsenal stun Real Madrid on famous night

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Arsenal hold their commanding lead after Declan Rice netted a pair of stunning free-kicks, while Spaniard Mikel Merino was also on target.

Real responded by winning 1-0 at Alaves in La Liga on Saturday.

Los Blancos have only lost one Champions League home game since April 2022, which was a 3-1 defeat against AC Milan in November.

Bellingham insists there is plenty of belief in the camp that they will respond - and remain on course for a record-extending 16th European Cup.

"Straight after the game, it's tough, because you're dealing with the sucker-punch and the blow of the result," he continued. "You're probably more negative than positive in that moment.

"Then you take your shower and you get speaking to the other lads. With the experience that some of the players have, it's contagious, really.

"They've been in this situation before, when they've not maybe delivered the most in the first leg and in the second leg they've come back.

"Picking the brains of those players made me realise, probably by the time we left the stadium, that we can do this.

"We were obviously nowhere near our best in the first leg. Those honest conversations that have come as a part of that mean there is feedback there, and there is a mentality from the team that things have to improve.

"We're well aware of that and we'll try and show that."

And what if the worst happens, and Real are knocked out?

"I'm not thinking about it," Bellingham concluded.

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