Stats: Real Madrid have lost more games under Arbeloa already than they did under Xabi Alonso
Stats: Real Madrid have lost more games under Arbeloa already than they did under Xabi Alonso There is an increasingly loud debate surrounding Real Madrid’s direction this season, and at the centre of it lies a key question – are Los Blancos actually better under Alvaro Arbeloa, or did they let go of something more stable under Xabi Alonso too soon? On the surface, there are reasons for optimism. Even after the 1-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, the tie remains very much alive.
A one-goal deficit is far from decisive, and there is a growing belief within the club that a comeback in Munich is achievable . However, scratch beneath that optimism, and the picture becomes far more complex. Real Madrid’s record under Arbeloa and Alonso While Arbeloa has brought fresh ideas and a different energy to the team, results have not always followed consistently.
In fact, under Alonso, Real Madrid suffered five defeats across 28 matches, which was a relatively controlled record for a team competing on multiple fronts. Under Arbeloa, though, that figure has already been surpassed, with six losses coming in just 19 games. That contrast naturally raises questions about stability and direction.
Real Madrid have lost more games under Arbeloa than under Alonso. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images) Even when looking at win percentage, the difference is marginal but telling, as Alonso operated at 73. 7%, while Arbeloa’s current rate stands at 72.
2%. It is not a dramatic drop, but in a club like Real Madrid, it is enough to fuel debate. Evident differences Of course, numbers alone do not tell the whole story.