Real Madrid find their backbone again under Arbeloa

Fourth game under Arbeloa and confidence at Real Madrid has risen exponentially. It was the first truly high-demand test away from the Bernabéu (the Albacete upset aside), and the team continues to rediscover its feel while bringing players back into the fold. Kylian Mbappé is pulling the team, yes, but he is no longer doing it alone alongside Thibaut Courtois, and La Cerámica offered clear proof of that. Above all, this Madrid side has left defensive apathy behind – and from there, everything has improved.

Defending is winning. Marcelino’s team managed just eight shots, and only one – by Moleiro in the 70th minute – was on target, without troubling Courtois. With little to save, the goalkeeper instead made a couple of timely sweeps to stop Villarreal’s attack from getting close to goal. Two clean sheets, two league wins with Arbeloa in charge in La Liga.

Courtois, untroubled. The Belgian, who marked a milestone at La Cerámica with his 150th league clean sheet, did not face a single shot on target against Levante and only one here – again, Moleiro’s effort. Monaco tested him more, with six shots on target, but that night Madrid were a steamroller at the other end.

Back to the beginning. Arbeloa has, at least in league play, managed to restore the solid Madrid seen early in the season – the team that kept seven clean sheets in its first 14 games under Xabi. Thanks to those against Levante and Villarreal, Madrid now have 10 clean sheets in 21 league rounds (best in the division) and, with 17 goals conceded, are the stingiest defense in the competition.

United in the press. There is no doubt – the long-missed high press is back. “We feel comfortable when we don’t have the ball. The most important thing is that, when we’re without it, all eleven of us are ready to help and to run for each other. I’d highlight the defensive work of Mbappé and Vini and how they helped,” Valverde said after Saturday’s 2–0 win. Another player whose level has risen with the change on the bench. Six of the ten outfield players recovered at least five balls, led by Valverde himself (nine recoveries), followed by Carreras (seven), and Mastantuono, Camavinga and Bellingham (six each). Madrid are winning from the back.

Vinícius is different. From minute one, Arbeloa set out to end the image of a subdued Vini, who had drifted through months of uneasy calm under Xabi, clearly dissatisfied. Since the Levante game, whistles and all, he has taken the bull by the horns. Against Monaco, a goal and two assists. At La Cerámica, the opening goal came from one of his runs. He has been revived. His average of completed dribbles this season is up to 2.4. Against Levante he completed four, the same as against Monaco – there with an outstanding 80% success rate. Quantity and quality. A happy Vini is once again tormenting defenders.

Güler and Franco, active again. Inside the club there was real concern about the situation of both youngsters, who had fallen out of Xabi’s plans in his final weeks. Arbeloa put them front and center from day one, and they have responded. Against Levante, Güler lifted the team’s play. Mastantuono scored his second goal as a Madrid player against Monaco. They are starters again – and on merit.

Pressure on Barça. Last round’s slip by Barcelona in Anoeta cut their lead over Madrid to a single point. Arbeloa’s Madrid are once again in a position to control their own destiny against Flick’s side, whether through another Barça stumble or via the Clásico still to come.

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