Jude Bellingham's Frustration After Champions League Win

Jude Bellingham walked off the Bernabéu pitch with three points in his pocket and a hint of frustration still written across his face.

Real Madrid had opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan on Tuesday night, but the scoreline told only part of the story. Inter, the reigning Italian champions, pushed Madrid hard, and Bellingham did not try to disguise it.

"We struggled at times against a very strong team," the England midfielder admitted, speaking to the club’s official channels after the game. "They are deserving Italian champions, and there were moments when we made them suffer, especially on the counter-attacks, when we were passing the ball well."

The pattern felt familiar to him. Madrid had also laboured against Real Betis at the weekend, dominating stretches of the game but failing to turn superiority into comfort.

"Something similar happened against Real Betis at the end of last week, when we failed to take our chances," he said. The theme is becoming a warning light rather than a passing detail.

Madrid led, controlled long spells and carved out openings, yet never killed the contest. Bellingham knew they should have.

"We could have finished the match with an easier scoreline," he said. "We had chances, myself included, but in the Champions League there are bound to be difficult moments."

Those difficult moments arrived when Inter found gaps and forced Madrid back. Bellingham was quick to shield his defenders from criticism, while still sounding a note of caution.

"We conceded only one goal, and the defenders were excellent, but big teams find gaps in our defence. And Courtois was brilliant. Not everything was bad, but there is still room for improvement. The most important thing is the three points."

If the team performance felt incomplete, Bellingham’s own night followed the same script. Twice he thought he had his goal. Twice he was denied.

"I thought I was going to score," he said, replaying the first big chance in his mind. "The first time, the goalkeeper suddenly appeared. The ball reached me and I said to myself: 'It's a goal.' But he cleared it suddenly."

The second opportunity came just as he tried to adjust his body and pick his spot.

"The second time, I saw the ball a little late, and there were players in the middle, I tried to control it and struck it well. But once again, the goalkeeper saved it superbly."

No excuses, just irritation at what might have been.

"It's frustrating, because it would have made things easier for us if I had scored, but it's part of the game. On another day, these shots will go in."

Madrid have their win, their start, their reminder of how fine the margins are at this level. Bellingham’s belief in his finishing remains intact. The question now is whether those “other days” he talks about arrive quickly enough to turn control into dominance in Europe’s biggest competition.