Álvaro Arbeloa Is Already Collecting Failures at Real Madrid
The situation Real Madrid is going through is not entirely Álvaro Arbeloa’s responsibility. In fact, it could even be seen as an inheritance from Xabi Alonso, whose unexpected departure left the club scrambling for answers.
However, it is Arbeloa’s name that has now been linked to two of the biggest failures of Real Madrid’s season—setbacks that could ultimately define a campaign that risks ending empty-handed.
1. Early elimination from the Copa del Rey
“I am responsible for this,” Arbeloa admitted after Real Madrid were knocked out in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey following a shocking 3–2 defeat to Albacete. At the time, it felt like a turning point for the team after losing to a side from a lower division.
The second-division club handed Arbeloa a harsh lesson in his first match in charge, leaving Real Madrid with only LaLiga and the Champions League still within reach—exactly where they stand now.
2. Falling out of the Champions League Top 8
In LaLiga, the situation remains manageable. Real Madrid sit just one point behind Barcelona. But the brutal blow suffered at the Estádio da Luz could be the kind that either sinks a team or forces it to rise again.
In the final moments against José Mourinho’s Benfica, goalkeeper Anatoli Trubin scored to seal a humiliating 4–2 defeat, leaving Real Madrid stunned on the pitch. The play was deeply embarrassing for the fans and sparked widespread criticism.
Now, Real Madrid must go through the playoff round to continue their Champions League journey, where they could once again face Benfica—or Norway’s Bodø/Glimt. That will be decided this Friday, January 30.
Only time will tell how this chapter under Álvaro Arbeloa unfolds. Then we will know whether his appointment was the right call—or a rushed decision made in the wake of Xabi Alonso’s abrupt exit.
