Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa reacted with a wolfish half smile when asked on Movistar TV if his team’s 3-0 Champions League last-16 first-leg win over Manchester City had been better than he could ever have imagined.

“It went better than you (the media) thought anyway,” Arbeloa replied. “I’m very happy for how the Bernabeu and the players have enjoyed themselves, they deserved a night like this. We knew there was not much confidence in this team and these players. We’ve shown that we are Real Madrid, and you can never assume we are dead.”

It sounded like a victory lap from Arbeloa, who has enjoyed trolling anybody who he thinks has criticised him or Madrid. It was understandable given how huge a result this was for the rookie coach, who came into this game under massive pressure.

Match Details	Information
Competition	Champions League last-16 first leg
Result	Real Madrid 3-0 Manchester City
Scorers	Federico Valverde (hat-trick before half-time)

The Pressure on Arbeloa

Many had been assuming that Arbeloa — who only replaced Xabi Alonso as Madrid coach in early January — was not going to last too long on the Bernabeu bench. Results have been mixed through his first two months, and performances have been scratchy.

Given their last game at the Bernabeu was a dismal 1-0 La Liga defeat by lowly neighbours Getafe, Arbeloa was asked by sceptical reporters pre-game if he still believed Madrid could be favourites against City.

“You all know the Champions League is special for us, with our mentality, motivation and spirit,” Arbeloa said. “We’re Real Madrid, and no matter what the circumstances, we never feel inferior to anyone.”

Tactical Masterclass

Madrid took the lead against the run of play. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois sent a long ball forward towards Federico Valverde out on the right, and the Uruguayan showed tremendous anticipation, athleticism and quality to take advantage of misjudgements from both Nico O’Reilly and Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 1-0.

It was no fluke. Valverde said Arbeloa and his staff had worked on getting the team to do exactly that. “We’d trained on that a lot,” Valverde told Movistar TV. “Above all on goal kicks, that (City) would go to press up one-on-one, so we knew there would be space behind, and we had fast players up front. And we took advantage of it well.”

Arbeloa took credit for getting one over Guardiola — who has had so many tactical battles against Madrid at City and Barcelona (when Arbeloa was a Madrid player under Jose Mourinho).

“We knew very well how City play, and how Pep plays,” Arbeloa told Movistar TV. “We tried a lot to close off the passing lines and the spaces, and not do what they want — which is to jump out and they get behind you. We knew we could do them damage, if we had patience and turned them around, and run at them.”

The opening goal changed the mood in the stadium, with confidence surging through players and fans. Valverde went on to complete one of the great Champions League hat-tricks, giving Madrid a 3-0 lead before half-time. Arbeloa also deserved credit as the 27-year-old was one of the players who struggled most to take on board Alonso’s tactical ideas. Arbeloa makes fewer specific demands, but has freed the club captain up to get forward more.

Luck and Circumstances

Madrid had some luck defending their lead. Antonio Rudiger made a tremendous clearance with Erling Haaland waiting to knock the cross to an empty net. Courtois made his customary wonder save blocking when O’Reilly had dispossessed teenager Thiago Pitarch near the penalty spot. They could still rue Vinicius Junior’s penalty miss in the second half.

Injuries to Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham made it easier for Arbeloa to field more hard-working players, including 18-year-old Pitarch in his first Champions League start. This helped the team be more compact and meant Valverde could get forward knowing somebody would cover behind.

Both Mbappe and Bellingham could be back for the second leg or quarter-finals. But fitting all of Madrid’s stars into a cohesive collective is not easy.

Looking Ahead

Arbeloa’s prediction of needing to “see out the second leg” proved accurate, but first came a morale-boosting 4-1 victory over Elche on Saturday. Madrid rested key players ahead of the Champions League second leg with Manchester City on Tuesday, bringing on five substitutes who are 21 or younger.

Arbeloa was visibly moved by the inclusion of five academy graduates on the pitch. “I think I can die happy after a night like tonight. For someone who came up through the youth system and reached the first team after spending so many years there… I was just talking to Yanez and Aguado, who were the first players I coached when they were 13 or 14, and to be able to give them the opportunity to play at the Bernabeu is a dream come true for me,” Arbeloa said.

The game was capped off by Arda Guler’s stunning strike from inside his own half in the 89th minute. Guler scored from 68.6 meters (75.02 yards), making it the longest goal in the past 15 LaLiga seasons. “We should frame it and hang it on a wall,” Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV. “It’s amazing. Wonderful. I saw everyone throw their hands up in amazement, and I did too. It was worth having paid for a ticket, or two or three, to see what he did.”

There are still problems with this Madrid squad. Things can turn quickly at Madrid, as Arbeloa well knows. So it was understandable why he was happy to enjoy the praise. And, having got so much right, he deserved his fair share.

FAQs

What was the final score of Real Madrid vs Manchester City?

Real Madrid beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Champions League last-16 first leg. Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick before half-time to give Madrid a commanding lead.

What tactical approach did Arbeloa use against Manchester City?

Arbeloa trained the team to exploit City’s high press on goal kicks. Courtois sent long balls to Valverde on the right, knowing City would press one-on-one and leave space behind. Arbeloa said they tried to “close off the passing lines and not do what they want — which is to jump out and they get behind you.”

What pressure was Arbeloa under before the match?

Many assumed Arbeloa — who only replaced Xabi Alonso in early January — wouldn’t last long on the Bernabeu bench. Results had been mixed, performances scratchy. Their last Bernabeu game was a dismal 1-0 defeat by Getafe.

How did injuries help Arbeloa’s tactical setup?

Injuries to Mbappe, Rodrygo and Bellingham made it easier to field more hard-working players, including 18-year-old Thiago Pitarch in his first Champions League start. This helped the team be more compact and meant Valverde could get forward knowing somebody would cover behind.

Are Real Madrid’s problems solved after this win?

Not necessarily. Ancelotti’s Madrid faced Guardiola’s City last year, easily qualified, only to be turned over by Arsenal in the next round. Ancelotti was sacked after a season with no big trophies. There are still problems, and it would be no surprise if they struggle when Elche visit on Saturday.