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A Jude Bellingham goal is becoming the most familiar sight to see on a Champions League night, but as Real Madrid's 2-1 victory at SC Braga on Tuesday proved, so is a hard-fought victory for Los Blancos after a less-than-ideal attacking performance.

Real Madrid took an early lead courtesy of Rodrygo, whose close-range finish in the 16th minute came after Vinicius Junior made a smart run down the left wing. It provided the foundation they needed during a game that was not quite going their way against a Braga team that seemed up for the challenge.

That was especially the case in the first half, when Real Madrid had almost 60% of the ball but posed limited attacking threat. Though they had two shots on target to Braga's zero, the Portuguese side outshot Real Madrid nine to seven and also won the expected goals battle 0.6 to 0.4.

The Spanish giants did not fare much better in the second half, even though Bellingham notched his third goal in three Champions League games in the 61st minute. Braga worked their way back into the game and possession was nearly level by the end, and they maintained their advantage in shots (16 to 13) and expected goals (1.69 to 0.82) at full time. Real Madrid, though, had six shots on target to Braga's three -- and obviously two goals to one.

A lackluster attacking performance is becoming a worrying trend for Real Madrid in Champions League play, notably after a narrow 3-2 victory over Napoli on Matchday 2. They also played a fairly even game in possession and on shots that day, but had fewer shots on target (seven to five) and a lower expected goals tally (1.98 to 1.48). Three games in, they rank first among their fellow group stage participants for shots with 63, but slide all the way down to 24th when considering the percentage of shots on target, which is a dismal 28.6%.

The victors have truly relied on their star-studded attack to deliver individual moments of brilliance, something that Bellingham has almost single-handedly done himself this season. He now has 11 goals and four assists in 12 games for Real Madrid, and has considerably overperformed his expected goals score across all competitions. He has eight goals but an expected goals tally of 4.05 in La Liga, and three goals from an expected goals score of 1.77 in the Champions League.

His unbelievable scoring streak is equal parts an example of his strengths and Real Madrid's weaknesses since his form is bound to return to the mean at some point. The good news on Tuesday, though, was that he may not be the only person to deliver heroics just when they need them. Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, who assisted Bellingham's goal, were just as important to their team's success with two shots each.

The less-than-ideal attacking showing overall forces the question of how long Real Madrid can keep this up since it feels like an incredibly unsustainable strategy for success. Yet, the performances from Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo are also an example of why a club like Real Madrid would load up on star players in the first place. Players like them somehow always find a way to make a difference, even on days where things are imperfect. That said, it's worth asking: Will Real Madrid actually reach their true potential at some point this season to become a contender for the Champions League trophy or do they not even need to?