Ahead of tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash with Arsenal, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and influential midfielder Jude Bellingham have urged the fans to tap into the “magic” of the Santiago Bernabeu to inspire a comeback.
Arsenal dominated in London, with two free-kicks from Declan Rice and a strike from Mikel Merino giving Mikel Arteta’s side a commanding advantage.
But Madrid, the 15-time European champions, are banking on their storied history of comebacks under the lights at the Bernabeu to spark another miraculous turnaround.
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“We have the quality to turn this tie around, along with the commitment, the experience, and the fans,” said Ancelotti in his pre-match press conference.
“The Santiago Bernabeu has magic, and everyone knows it’s a special atmosphere. We’ll need a bit of everything, quality and a complete performance, both physically and collectively.”
Ancelotti spoke on the importance of starting strong to dictate the rhythm of the game.
“It’s about trying your best at the beginning to have that control, and when you have that, you can score at any moment.”
Jude Bellingham, set to return to the starting lineup, echoed his coach’s belief in the club’s aura on big European nights.
“Hopefully, we can add another special night. It’s a night that’s made for Real Madrid. I’ve heard it a million times since last week, and I’ve seen a million videos; it’s really motivating stuff.”
While Arsenal sit on the verge of their first Champions League semi-final since 2009, Arteta’s side must be wary of Real Madrid’s reputation for staging the improbable.
