Calamity at the Bernabéu: Mourinho’s Onslaught Brings Arbeloa Back to Alonso’s Shadow

Portuguese Onslaught

Real Madrid’s lifeless showing culminated in a 4-2 loss to Benfica at Da Luz, a result that sent shockwaves through the Bernabéu faithful and exposed a side still ironing out the kinks in its current phase.

The clash, coached by Mourinho, saw Arbeloa return to a Madrid side reeling from a tactical onslaught and a high-press that didn’t quite resemble the intensity of the Alonso era. The Portuguese setup pressed Madrid into errors, reviving memories of the past where a couple of misplaced decisions could redefine a match.

Defensive Breakdown and Individual Struggles

Courtois endured what many called a true onslaught, facing 12 shots on goal, including a late 97th-minute header that stitched the final nail in Madrid’s coffin. It was the worst tally Madrid have conceded this season and underscored a defensive façade that cracked far too easily under pressure.

Offensively, Madrid looked bereft of ideas. Mbappé received scant real support, while Jude Bellingham produced a notably muted performance. Vinícius Júnior regressed in the opening minutes, and Camavinga’s usual dynamism in midfield fell flat, leaving Madrid without a convincing blueprint to turn the tide.

The visitors’ advantage wasn’t just on the scoreboard; Benfica’s work rate and tactical discipline highlighted gaps in Madrid’s approach, prompting questions about the persistence of the high-pressing style and the team’s ability to recapture its edge this season.

Madrid’s numbers in the final third offered a sobering contrast to Benfica’s activity. Ball recoveries in the attacking third dropped to a mere handful, while Madrid also lagged in physical duels, finishing with fewer ball recoveries overall than their Portuguese counterpart.

Benfica, led by Mourinho, capitalized on the exposed spaces and posed a stern test for Arbeloa, rekindling debates about past eras and what needs to be changed to re-establish Madrid’s competitive DNA.

Final takeaway: this result fuels the ongoing discussion about pressing intensity, defensive shape, and whether Madrid can recalibrate quickly enough to meet the rest of the campaign’s demands — ideally with a dash of humor to soften the sting.

Punchline 1: If defense were a martial art, Real Madrid would be stuck in a perpetual windmill kick—flailing but somehow missing the target every time.

Punchline 2: They say a good defense wins titles; right now, Madrid’s defense is so porous you could file a passport through it. Good news for the open-window season, bad news for the rest of us.