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Jude Bellingham is ice cool! Real Madrid star insists he had no nerves in nail-biting Champions League semi-final triumph over Bayern Munich

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  • Real Madrid beat Bayern 2-1 to seal final spot
  • Bellingham puts in incredible shift in midfield
  • Set to face former club Dortmund in final
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Santiago Bernabeu witnessed a tense battle as Madrid's 13-month unbeaten home record hung in the balance after Alphonso Davies' goal for Bayern Munich in the 68th minute threatened to derail Madrid's Champions League ambitions. However, Carlo Ancelotti's side rallied, with substitute Joselu scoring a dramatic late equaliser before sealing a thrilling 2-1 victory in stoppage time.

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  • Jude Bellingham Real MadridGetty

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Bellingham also put in a stellar shift at midfield and won hearts with a remarkable display of composure even in the face of adversity. The 20-year-old reflected maturity beyond his years, maintained his cool demeanour and pushed on for the equaliser even when Bayern dug in deep to protect the slender one-goal lead.

  • WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

    When asked if he felt the nerves ahead of the match Bellingham said on TNT Sports: "Not really. I really would want to say I do, but in the changing room, I was looking around and I just thought I couldn’t be in a better position with better people. Where else would I rather be? I was seven at Birmingham, dreaming of nights like this. To then get here and want to be somewhere else doesn’t make any sense to me. Yeah, I am just so happy to be here and part of this night."

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    With Real Madrid securing a berth in the Champions League final, Bellingham faces a reunion with his former club, Borussia Dortmund, at Wembley Stadium on June 1. The English star is looking forward to a thrilling encounter and believes that the Black and Yellows rightfully deserve to be in the title decider.

    When asked if he would have liked to face another opponent, rather than Dortmund in the final, he said: "I think at this stage of the competition, anyone who’s still in it, or anyone who’s got in that final deserves to be there, so to cherry-pick would be unfair. We’ve got there because we deserve to and they’ve got there because they deserve to and that’s what the final is all about and hopefully it can be a great game. At Wembley, against Dortmund, it is a weird one. I can’t believe it. I am so looking forward to it, the atmosphere, the game itself. A Champions League final, man.”

  • Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 2023-24Getty Images

    WHAT NEXT?

    Having already secured Spanish Super Cup and La Liga crowns, Bellingham will be eager to cap off a sensational debut year by lifting the coveted European Cup with Real Madrid. Moreover, if he does manage to conquer Europe, it will significantly boost his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or as well.