Jude Bellingham Reflects on Real Madrid's Win Over Inter Milan

Jude Bellingham walked off the pitch at the Bernabéu with three points in his pocket and a frown on his face.

Real Madrid had just edged past Inter Milan 2-1 in their Champions League opener on Tuesday night, but the England midfielder cut through any early-season euphoria with a blunt assessment of the performance.

“We struggled at times against a very strong team,” he admitted, speaking after the final whistle. “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.”

Madrid’s transitions did hurt Inter, yet Bellingham saw a familiar pattern creeping in. The wastefulness in front of goal that had surfaced against Real Betis at the weekend returned on Europe’s biggest stage.

“Something similar happened against Real Betis at the end of last week, when we failed to take our chances,” he said, pointing directly at a problem that has already annoyed him twice in a matter of days.

Missed chances and narrow margins

For Bellingham, this should have been a more comfortable night. Madrid led, created, broke with pace. They also left the door open.

“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 as Inter pushed and found gaps that most domestic opponents rarely exploit. Madrid held on, but not without strain.

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

The praise for Thibaut Courtois was no throwaway line. Inter forced the Belgian into key saves that kept Madrid in control of the result, if not always the rhythm.

Bellingham’s frustration in front of goal

Bellingham’s irritation was also personal. He had chances to kill the game himself and knew it.

“I thought I was going to score,” he admitted. “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 stung just as much.

“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.”

Two big openings, no goal. For a player who demands a lot from himself, that left a mark.

“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,” he concluded.

Madrid have started their Champions League campaign with a win. Bellingham, though, has already set the bar higher.