Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will meet his maker on Wednesday in the Champions League, when his managerial idol Jose Mourinho returns to the Bernabeu with a Benfica side that still has slim hopes of making the next round.
Real Madrid via Getty Images
Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa will meet his maker in the Champions League on Wednesday, when his managerial idol Jose Mourinho returns to the Bernabeu with a Benfica side that still has slim hopes of making the next round.
Sitting in third place in the league phase, Madrid pretty much has knockout phase qualification wrapped up but will want to win in front of its demanding home fans to not possibly drop into the playoff spots while also saving the need to contest extra games in an action-packed calendar.
Madrid’s fate in the competition was decided by the fired Xabi Alonso, who also played under Mourinho with Arbeloa in the early 2010s, yet a 6-1 win over Kylian Mbappe’s former club AS Monaco last week left Los Blancos fans daring to dream of a record 16th crown in the competition.
Elsewhere in Spain, FC Barcelona’s slip up at Real Sociedad means that the Catalans’ four point advantage has been reduced to just one in the La Liga table, and things might be looking up for Arbeloa and his men.
Just because qualification is pretty much in the bag, though, that doesn’t mean Arbeloa will take it easy on his fondest playing days leader Mourinho.
Rather than perhaps resting some key players and focusing on the league, the World Cup winner is set to field his strongest possible side against a Portuguese foe.
In goal then, Thibaut Courtois starts with a back line of former Benfica man Alvaro Carreras, Dean Huijsen, Raul Asencio and Fede Valverde.
In midfield, it’s Eduardo Camavinga that starts alongside Jude Bellingham, with pivot Aurelien Tchouameni providing brains and muscle behind them.
Up top, Franco Mastantuono continues his run in the first team to the right of central striker Mbappe and left winger Vinicus Jr.
What Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said
“For us it is a very important match. We need the three points against a great team, one that… even if in the Youth League … comes with an enormous difficulty.
“I’ve already warned the players. If we want to win, we must be very focused and play to the limit for 90 minutes. Tomorrow’s difficulty will be maximum.”
Real Madrid Vs. Benfica First XI: Courtois; Carreras, Huijsen, Asencio, Valverde; Tchouameni, Bellingham, Camavinga; Vinicius, Mbappe, Mastantuono