Alvaro Arbeloa insisted solely a “full” efficiency from his Actual Madrid gamers can be sufficient to beat Benfica, however stated revenge was not on his thoughts.
Madrid return to the Estadio da Luz 16 days after they have been crushed 4-2 by Benfica of their remaining match of the league part, a end result that noticed them drop out of the highest eight.
The match completed in dramatic circumstances, with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scoring within the 98th minute to assist ship Jose Mourinho’s aspect by to the following spherical.
However since that defeat on the dying, Los Blancos have gained every of their final three LaLiga video games, together with a 4-1 overcome Actual Sociedad over the weekend.
Madrid have additionally gained eight of their final 10 Champions League video games towards Portuguese sides (D1 L1), netting 2.2 targets on common per fixture throughout that point.
Nonetheless, throughout their final 11 matches within the UEFA’s flagship competitors, Madrid have misplaced extra typically (six) than they’ve gained (5), and Arbeloa is below no illusions in regards to the job forward for his staff.
“Benfica will probably be superb tomorrow, and we have to be prepared. They’ve an unbelievable chief who tells them how one can play, and that’s their coach,” Arbeloa instructed reporters.
“Our purpose isn’t to take revenge on Benfica, our purpose is to win the Champions League, and beating Benfica is a step in that path.
“To win, we must play very nicely, and to do this, we must do many issues proper. We must defend nicely and assault nicely.
“We must keep centered on set items. And we must play a really full recreation for 90 minutes.”
Coaching time! pic.twitter.com/2EmwGCwQRs
— Actual Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) February 16, 2026
Arbeloa additionally credited his gamers for his or her current upturn in kind, having misplaced simply two of their eight matches throughout all competitions below the previous Madrid defender.
Since Arbeloa’s first recreation in cost, a 2-1 defeat to Albacete within the Copa del Rey final 16, Los Blancos have crushed the likes of Valencia, Monaco, and a Sociedad aspect who got here into their conflict final Saturday who have been unbeaten of their final 11 matches.
“Since I arrived, I’ve seen a really optimistic perspective from all of the gamers, and that has been key,” Arbeloa added.
“In soccer, it’s a lot simpler to be a supervisor than a participant, as a result of it’s simpler to say what must be completed than to do it.
“A lot credit score should go to the gamers. To their effort and onerous work. The nice outcomes come due to the gamers we’ve, who put together for each match as if it have been a remaining.
“And with that mentality, that prime normal, good outcomes are coming. However we’re assured that we are able to go even additional.”
Benfica have gained three of their 4 Champions League/European Cup towards Madrid (L1) and are available into the sport with a powerful current report at residence.
Certainly, Mourinho’s males have emerged victorious of their earlier two Champions League residence video games (2-0 v Napoli and 4-2 v Madrid).
The one earlier event wherein they’ve gained three in a row in the identical version was in 1994-95, of their first three matches following the competitors’s rebrand.
And of their first conflict, Benfica tried 14 photographs within the first half, with Los Blancos solely ever dealing with extra photographs within the opening 45 minutes of a Champions League recreation on report as soon as earlier than (since 2003-04), dealing with 15 towards Juventus in November 2013.
“Benfica didn’t shock me final time in any respect, as a result of I do know what all of Jose Mourinho’s groups are like,” Arbeloa stated of their earlier assembly.
“It might be the identical even when he performed with the youth staff.
“It’s a brand new match, nothing just like the one three weeks in the past. We’ve analysed it and we’re prepared. I can’t ask for extra from the gamers than what they’ve proven thus far.”
