Since the defeat in Lisbon in January, Arbeloa has made some changes, including tweaking Real’s formation.
That match was the last time he played with a 4-3-3 formation, where Franco Mastantuono, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr started as the front three.
In Real’s subsequent three games, Arbeloa has changed to a 4-4-2 set-up, where Mastantuono drops back into midfield to leave Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius and Mbappe as rotating striker options.
“Defensively, it’s a structure that closes down the midfield corridor, where there are more players, and allows us to be more compact,” Arbeloa said.
A Match Decided by One Moment of Magic
The first leg in Lisbon ended in a 1–0 victory for Real Madrid, with Vinícius Júnior producing the decisive moment early in the second half. The Brazilian forward curled a spectacular shot into the top corner in the 50th minute, giving Madrid a crucial away win and control of the tie heading into the return leg.
Real Madrid also dominated key statistics, recording 16 shots to Benfica’s 10 and a significantly higher expected-goals figure, reflecting their overall control of the contest.
Drama Overshadows the Result
The defining goal was immediately followed by a tense and controversial incident. After celebrating, Vinícius reported an alleged racist remark from a Benfica player, prompting referee François Letexier to activate UEFA’s anti-racism protocol. The match was halted for about ten minutes while officials assessed the situation.
The confrontation escalated tensions on the pitch and in the stands, with both teams visibly affected. Benfica coach José Mourinho was later sent off after protests, adding further drama to an already charged atmosphere.
Context: A Rivalry Full of Recent Twists
The clash carried extra narrative weight because of earlier encounters between the sides this season. Benfica had previously beaten Madrid 4–2 in the league phase, including a dramatic stoppage-time header from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin that secured their progression and denied Madrid automatic qualification.
That result, combined with the latest first-leg victory for Madrid, has turned the tie into a psychological and tactical battle between two European heavyweights.
“With the type of players we have, if we want to counter-attack, it also allows us to do so. We have a lot of room for improvement. I’m very happy because, beyond the systems, the key is effort, mentality, and teamwork, and we’re achieving that.”
Asked if his team is stronger with four midfielders, Arbeloa explained that “the goal is always to be solid”.
“It’s very difficult these days to play good football if you’re not solid, compact, and don’t know how to press high up the pitch,” he added.
“To do all that, you need a lot of concentration, a lot of work and training. [Federico] Valverde, [Eduardo] Camavinga, [Aurelien] Tchouameni, and [Arda] Guler are doing a fantastic job [in midfield], and I don’t need to tell them anything new.”
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