Real Madrid entered the match needing to overturn a three-goal deficit against Arsenal, and their task seemed nearly impossible when Arsenal was awarded a penalty in the 10th minute due to a foul by Raúl Asensio on Mikel Merino.

The decision was met with boos from the fans and stunned expressions from Real Madrid players. Among them, Bellingham resorted to more mysterious tactics to regain control of the game. Just before the penalty, he exchanged a few words with Saka, whispering something in his ear. Moments later, Arsenal’s star, who usually takes excellent penalties, failed to chip the ball past Thibaut Courtois.

This is not the first time Bellingham has tried to influence the mindset of his English teammates. Last season, during the semi-final match against Bayern Munich, he approached Harry Kane as he prepared to take a penalty. Kane ignored the 21-year-old’s interference and scored, resulting in a 2-2 draw in the first leg.

Courtois’ save was one of the few bright moments in a night where the defending champions, despite entering the match with confidence, were humiliated. In the end, Saka and his teammates not only preserved their lead but secured a historic 2-1 victory to advance to the next round.