Four matches may not present a comprehensive picture, especially for a coach at Real Madrid. After suffering a surprising defeat to Albacete Balompie in the Copa del Rey, Alvaro Arbeloa has tallied three straight wins. His success raises questions about whether these victories would have occurred under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso. Arbeloa’s early recognition of needing to field both Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior demonstrates his approach to the role.

The club’s internal dynamics always play a critical role, especially as they navigate a season following Alonso’s abrupt departure. Exploring tactical solutions to harmonize Vinicius and Mbappe has been crucial for Arbeloa, whose strategy has yielded 12 goals in three matches while allowing just four. Despite the challenges, the trajectory of the team appears positive at this juncture.

Thibaut Courtois remarked post-match, “I don’t think it’s changed that much, every coach has his own way of training, but maybe something is clicking better now.”

Upcoming Match

Date: Wednesday, Jan. 28
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Estadio da Luz – Lisbon, Portugal
Live stream: Paramount+
Odds: Benfica +300; Draw +310; Real Madrid -125

This match poses significant questions for Los Blancos. While Benfica, who currently languish in 29th place, desperately need points, Mourinho’s arrival has yet to invigorate their performance, evidenced by their dismal goal-scoring record in the Champions League. Arbeloa’s past connection with Mourinho serves as a poignant reminder of their intertwined legacies. Arbeloa shared, “I know who Mourinho is… one of those friends you can go a long time without speaking to, and then if you call him at 3 a.m., I’m sure he’d answer.”

Reflecting on Mourinho’s past achievements, Arbeloa expressed gratitude for his contributions to Real Madrid’s history, emphasizing, “What the victory here 12 years ago meant deserves so much credit… But Mourinho laid the foundations for those years.”