Real Madrid Advances to Round of 16 with Narrow Victory

Match Summary

Real Madrid triumphed over their opponents with a score of 2-1, courtesy of a decisive goal from Vinicius Jr in the 80th minute. This victory secured Real’s place in the Champions League round of 16, winning the tie with an aggregate score of 3-1.

Manager’s Reflections

After the match, manager Arbeloa commented: “It’s not common for the second halves to outshine the first. Maybe my halftime strategies are more effective than my pre-game ones—I’ll need to analyze that. In the initial leg, we had a strong first half, but today Benfica really pressed and posed significant challenges.”

Game Dynamics

“Fortunately, we managed to quickly level the score, although it was unfortunate that Güler’s goal was disallowed. We saw improvements as the match progressed. It’s a pattern that whenever we address issues, we tend to fix them in the second half, which is encouraging.”

Challenges and Optimism

“Low defensive blocks create challenges for all teams, not just Real Madrid. Any formation with ten players tightly packed makes attacking difficult. Despite our players’ capabilities, there’s always room to enhance our approach in this aspect.”

Vision for Improvement

“We need to develop a cohesive strategy that enables us to attack more effectively, be better organized, and exhibit greater fluidity in our play. Ideally, we should be able to maneuver intuitively as a team, especially against a low block. I am optimistic and eager to assist them in this development.”

Praise for Vinicius Jr

On Vinicius Jr’s performance, Arbeloa expressed: “I’m thrilled with the outstanding goal he scored; he truly deserves it. With Mbappé sidelined, Vinicius has become even more crucial for us, and I’m very pleased for him as he is proving his worth on the pitch.”