Álvaro Arbeloa said Real Madrid can still turn the tie around after their 1-2 loss to Bayern in the first leg of the Champions quarterfinal at the Bernabéu, arguing the defeat could perhaps have been avoided with a little more luck in the second half. Speaking in the press room after the match, he said the team made two mistakes, two turnovers they had discussed before kickoff and again at halftime.
Real Madrid also had chances to change the night, Arbeloa said, adding that the team scored a goal that gave them hope and created enough openings to find another. He said Madrid were better after the break, when they managed to recover the ball, give the carrier options and build attacks that could hurt Bayern rather than simply chase them. But the margin for error was small, and the two turnovers proved costly.
The defeat leaves Madrid preparing for the second leg in Munich, where Arbeloa said the response must be immediate. “It won't be easy, but if any team can win in Munich, it's Real Madrid,” he said, adding that the club will travel with confidence and go “all-in for the victory in Germany.” He also said anyone who does not believe can stay in Madrid.
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Arbeloa said Aurélien Tchouameni will miss the return because of a card, but insisted Madrid have reliable options. “We’ll have time to think about who plays,” he said, while also voicing frustration over the challenge on Mbappé that led to the booking. He said the team had reached this stage practically without being able to prepare it on the pitch, unlike Bayern, who have worked with their coach for a long time and know exactly what they want.
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Jude Bellingham was another part of the wider picture. Arbeloa said the midfielder has been out for a long time and that his return should be handled progressively. For Madrid, the task now is simple to say and hard to do: take a first-leg loss at home, go to Germany and try to do what few teams manage in Champions League games against Bayern.
