Real Madrid secured their place in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Benfica on Wednesday night. Despite not delivering their best performance, Alvaro Arbeloa’s team managed to respond in time after falling behind to an opponent’s goal. Just two minutes after the first goal, Vinicius Jr. equalized, and in the final moments of the match, at the 80-minute mark, he shone again to seal the victory. With this result, Real Madrid advances in the knockout rounds, while Benfica is eliminated, intensifying the fierce rivalry between the two teams this season.
After the match, Alvaro Arbeloa addressed the press and provided a detailed analysis of his team’s performance and the situation of some key players. The coach made a point of highlighting Vinicius Jr.’s display, who was once again decisive. “I felt joy for the great goal he scored. He deserves it and is in great form. Without Mbappé, he is even more important.”
Regarding the absence of the French star, Arbeloa commented on Mbappé’s delicate situation, as he had to leave training due to discomfort. “We spoke with the doctors and with him, and the best thing was to stop. He is very important and now we will have to wait. I hope it is just a matter of days.” Arbeloa acknowledged that the absence of key players makes challenges even more complicated. “Without these absences, this clash becomes even more important. It greatly strengthens the group.”
When addressing the team’s performance, the coach did not hesitate to make a joke about his halftime interventions. “Perhaps my halftime talks are better than the ones I do before the game. In the first leg, we had a great first half. Today, they pressed us a lot.” Arbeloa also lamented the disallowed goal for Güler, adding: “We went from less to more.”
The victory was also a tribute to Federico Valverde’s consistent performance, which Arbeloa described as an extension of his leadership on the field. “Fede is showing the level he has and how important he is. Even with discomfort, he doesn’t want to stop.” The coach agreed with Thibaut Courtois’s statements about the need to improve the collective game: “Low blocks complicate things for all teams. As he said, we have room to improve.”
The upcoming challenge for Real Madrid in the round of 16 of the Champions League promises to be thrilling. When asked about potential opponents, Arbeloa did not hide his anticipation: “The goal was to be in the draw. People have already gotten used to a City-Real Madrid matchup. I’m sure we will meet again. It doesn’t matter, it will be difficult, knowing that the second leg is away.” The coach also acknowledged the strength of Sporting CP, a possible opponent in the draw: “Perhaps, if we get them, we know the difficulty. Portuguese teams are very competitive.”
Finally, in response to a question about a possible meeting with José Mourinho in Madrid, Arbeloa was straightforward: “I didn’t see him.” The statement, which reflects his firm and direct stance, concludes a press conference that will undoubtedly leave Real Madrid fans eager for what lies ahead in the European competition.
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