It started almost immediately after the final whistle. While Arsenal’s players and supporters were luxuriating in their extraordinary 3-0 first leg victory over Real Madrid last week, their opponents were already invoking the spirit of the Santiago Bernabéu.
“We are going to need something special to turn it around,” said Real Madrid and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, minutes after the match had ended. “But special things can happen in football. If there is one place where it can, it’s at our house.”
Around the same time in north London, Bellingham’s team-mate Lucas Vázquez was making similar comments.