This article is part of Football FanCast's Off the Bench series, which places in-game managerial decisions and squad selections under FFC's microscope.

Real Madrid hosted Club Brugge at the Santiago Bernabeu in their mid-week Champions League clash and were held to an embarrassing 2-2 draw by their visitors.

But it was a half-time substitute who ended up saving the day.

Snapshot

Just like their opener in the European competition against PSG, the follow-up game proved to be another disappointment for Los Blancos.

Even though they were most likely expected to get the job done without too much trouble, Real dropped the ball completely, going 2-0 down before the first 45 minutes were even over.

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That made for a rather stressful second half as Zinedine Zidane's troops looked to find a way back into the game.

And sure, with the efforts of Casemiro and captain Sergio Ramos, they clawed back and rescued a point.

But it was actually Alphonse Areola who pulled his weight and made sure Real exited Santiago Bernabeu without a chastening defeat.

Super-sub

Zidane revealed in the post-match press-conference that Thibaut Courtois had to be substituted due to some sort of discomfort. The Belgian simply couldn't continue and the coach was forced to make the change.

But it was still a brilliant move and exactly what the doctor had ordered for the Galacticos.

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Courtois conceded some sloppy goals in the first half, that much was even acknowledge by Zidane himself who called the first goal "a joke", while Areola came in and made a brilliant save, making sure Real Madrid didn't go 3-0 down.

If that had happened, it would likely have been game over for Los Blancos. But the loanee from PSG performed when he was called into action and this should already be posing some serious questions to the big boss on the sidelines.

Areola ended the game with one save from inside the box, 92% passing accuracy and with a total of 18 touches.

And even though Real conceded two, none rattled the inside of the net while the Frenchman was on the pitch, meaning he already has two clean sheets to his name in the two games he played so far for his new club across all competitions.

Courtois appeared to be turning a corner after back-to-back clean sheets having previously gone without one since February, but the contrasting fortunes of both goalkeepers on Tuesday night should really have Zidane thinking about who continues between the sticks for Real Madrid going forward.