How Real Madrid dismantled Manchester City as Arbeloa wins tactical battle with Pep Guardiola

When it seemed like he wasn’t there, suddenly he was everywhere. That was how Fede Valverde’s first goal arrived. That was how Real Madrid dismantled Manchester City. And that is what Real Madrid is, especially in the Champions League, a competition whose rhythm the club seems to know by heart.

When all eyes were fixed on Erling Haaland’s predatory instincts, the killer turned out to be a Hawk. When Pep Guardiola landed at the Santiago Bernabéu as a tactical Superman, he ran straight into Álvaro Arbeloa armed with kryptonite.

Madrid won. Arbeloa won, too.

The 3-0 victory gives Los Blancos a huge advantage heading to Manchester, both figuratively and literally flying high. It also answered the doubts that had begun to surface after recent LaLiga stumbles against Osasuna and Getafe.

“We’re better than you thought, right?” the message seemed to say.

Outside the club, confidence had been wavering. But Madrid delivered a reminder. This is Real Madrid. You never write them off.

The night was about raising a flag of defiance. A chance to puff out the chest and overwhelm Guardiola.

Arbeloa wins the tactical battle

On the big stage, Arbeloa made his statement.

The Madrid coach outmaneuvered his counterpart with a game plan that was both precise and disciplined. The idea was simple in concept but demanding in execution. Neutralize City’s strengths and turn their attacking firepower against them.

Short-circuit City’s build-up, then strike on the counter. But do it patiently. No panic, no reckless pressing. Accelerate when the moment was right, crowd the midfield, and sacrifice a traditional striker up top, leaving Gonzalo on the bench, to destabilize City’s structure.

“We knew exactly how City plays, how Pep plays, what he looks for,” Arbeloa said afterward. “We closed many passing lanes and avoided jumping into the press because that’s what they want, to attack the space behind you. And we wanted to hurt them with the ball. If we could turn them around, we knew we’d create chances.”

That is exactly what happened.

How Valverde become the Madrid matchwinner

The victory was built on a collective effort. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois emphasized that after the game.

“This was a step forward as a team, and we need to keep this in our heads. If we fight for each other, things will work out.”

Still, certain decisions proved decisive. One of the most important was Valverde’s role.

Facing City winger Jérémy Doku, many expected Arbeloa to use the tireless Uruguayan as a makeshift right back instead of Trent Alexander-Arnold or Dani Carvajal. Instead, the Englishman started, freeing Valverde to roam.

The result was explosive.

Madrid constantly doubled up to limit Doku’s threat, with help from Thiago Pitarch, Valverde and Brahim Díaz. At times it was two or three defenders against one.

But Valverde kept his freedom to surge forward. That was where the match was won. And where the goals came from.

The first arrived with a lightning burst down the right after a Courtois assist. The second came after drifting centrally before finishing from the left. The third was pure confidence: a delicate flick in the box followed by a stunning volley.

By then, the Bernabéu was in full roar.

Valverde led the match in touches (71), dribbles (four), shots on target (three), passes completed in the final third (10) and chances created (two).

Defensively he won 11 duels, recovered two balls and cleared three. He was never dribbled past and completed two tackles.

Valverde was everything, everywhere.

And he did it far from the right back position many expected him to occupy. Arbeloa resisted the temptation.

Trust in the academy

Another key piece of the plan was Thiago Pitarch.

The 18-year-old started again, playing with the composure of someone a decade older. When City’s pressure mounted, he calmly dropped between the center backs to help Madrid build from deep.

There was one shaky moment, a mistake in Madrid’s own half that Courtois rescued. But it showed something important: Pitarch approached the opportunity with respect, not fear.

Just as in the previous game against Celta Vigo, the first substitution was Arda Güler in the 70th minute, not the young midfielder. When Pitarch eventually left the field, he handed the baton to another academy player, Manuel Ángel.

From academy graduate to academy graduate.

“I congratulated Thiago for the match he played, against City in the round of 16,” Arbeloa said afterward. “We have to value our academy players. They didn’t cost $30 million or $50 million, but they feel what Real Madrid means and they have the quality. It’s a source of pride to see them compete and show the world what they’re capable of.”

The Bernabéu crowd rewarded the teenager with a standing ovation.

Against Guardiola, Arbeloa doubled down on one of his core principles: trust La Fábrica, Madrid’s youth academy.

Brahim delivers his own statement

Another pregame question centered on who would partner Vinícius Júnior in attack - Gonzalo or Brahim Díaz. Arbeloa’s answer was the Moroccan international.

Despite a shaky start in Vigo days earlier, the coach stuck with the Brahim for a second straight match. The idea was to exploit his quickness between the lines, his speed on the counter and his ability to create.

It paid off.

Brahim helped spark the second goal and delivered a brilliant assist over Rúben Dias that Valverde turned into his spectacular third. He also orchestrated the move where Vinícius drew a penalty, though Gianluigi Donnarumma saved the spot kick.

Later, Brahim nearly scored himself with a powerful run and cutback that forced a superb save from the Italian goalkeeper.

He pressed relentlessly and served as a key creative outlet. If Arbeloa made a statement on the sideline, Brahim made one on the field.

Huijsen answers the call

Perhaps the biggest surprise came in central defense.

During training before the match, Arbeloa tested Dean Huijsen alongside Antonio Rüdiger. On game day, he stuck with the plan.

Huijsen had not started since Feb. 17 in Lisbon. Injuries, doubts and a suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card against Getafe had pushed him out of the spotlight.

Many expected Raúl Asencio instead.

Instead, Arbeloa placed his trust in the young Dutch-born defender, hoping to use his ability on the ball to launch attacks from the back.

Huijsen delivered.

He completed 44 passes, the most of any Madrid player, with a 93.6 percent accuracy rate. He cleared five balls, made two recoveries and recorded six defensive actions.

Against Antoine Semenyo and Haaland, he rarely struggled. In fact, there were stretches when he made them disappear.

With Rüdiger in dominant form beside him, Haaland endured a quiet night at the Bernabéu.

The bigger picture for Real Madrid

Arbeloa made many decisions. Most of them worked.

City’s attack was largely contained, limited mostly to flashes from Doku. After several shaky performances that had raised doubts, Madrid responded with authority.

But even after the victory, Arbeloa avoided any sense of triumphalism.

“I was talking to the players the other day after the Getafe match about Groundhog Day,” he said, referring to the team’s fluctuating form.

That inconsistency is the next challenge.

The goal now is stability. Nights like this one, or the win over Villarreal, cannot keep alternating with frustrating performances like those against Osasuna or Getafe.

The focus shifts to Elche.

But for now, in his first tactical duel with Guardiola, Arbeloa can savor the moment.

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