Aside from Federico Valverde, one name stands out above the rest in Real Madrid’s victory over Manchester City: Álvaro Arbeloa.
For the coach from Salamanca it was a major duel, not only because it was the first leg of the round of 16… In front of him he had Josep Guardiola and everything that Catalan means for Real Madrid fans.
The final 3-0 – it could have been 4 if Vinicius didn’t miss a penalty – is an accolade like the coach, who arrived to replace Xabi Alonso in January, had never received before.
“🗣️ “My players have to believe that we are a team.”
⚽️ Arbeloa is very satisfied after the first leg against Manchester City. #UCL
📺 Don’t miss everything that the day has given in ‘Estudio Estadio Champions’: pic.twitter.com/c5euYdKkCE“
— Teledeporte (@teledeporte) March 11, 2026
His triumph has been indisputable. From the emotional to the tactical. He warned in the press conference the day before that Guardiola always surprises with “a new trick”, but the ace up his sleeve came from Arbeloa with the five midfielders and with the success of rehearsed plays such as the one that led to the first goal, by Valverde after Courtois’ long shot.
In addition to the great game, based on the commitment of all the players – the one that condemned Alonso – Arbeloa must be applauded for his bet on youth players like Thiago Pitarch and Manuel Ángel.
The first of the two midfielders was emptied and received several ovations from the fans in his debut as a starter in the Champions League. Nobody questioned that Arbeloa left Camavinga on the bench.
A Madrid lacking big stars
Anything can happen in football and qualification for the quarterfinals is not certified until the Manchester game, but this joy from Arbeloa and no one can take it away from him.
The team is currently very depleted due to the losses of international stars such as Militao, Mbappe, Bellingham and Rodrygo. Up to seven injured people will appear on the casualty list – to which Ferland Mendy must be added after the duel.
The absences are being covered with note by the aforementioned Valverde, Pitarch, Courtois and players who continue to step forward such as Aurélien Tchouaméni, Brahim Díaz or Ferland Mendy.
A mix of all this wiped out Guardiola’s City, which arrived at the Bernabéu at a good time thanks to the checkbook signings in the winter market.
It has been the reinforcement that all coaches who aspire to succeed in the White House would dream of. A boost to a stage in which so far the gray ones don’t fit. With Arbeloa everything is triumphs or defeats. Not a single draw in the 14 games he has already directed.
