MADRID: Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa faces several major decisions as his side prepares to host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their 2025-26 Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday night.
Real Madrid go into the game after a 2-1 defeat to Mallorca on Saturday, a result that left it seven points behind FC Barcelona in La Liga with just eight games remaining. With the league title slipping away, Real Madrid's campaign and Arbeloa's future as coach now appear to rest on success in Europe.
The good news for the Real Madrid coach is that his team is usually transformed in the Champions League, especially at home in the special atmosphere of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr will lead the Real Madrid attack, with Vinicius returning after starting Saturday's defeat on the bench following his return from international duty with a slight physical issue.
Arbeloa's first major dilemma is whether Jude Bellingham should start after he was fit enough only for a second-half substitute appearance at the weekend. Fede Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Arda Guler are all expected to start, leaving Arbeloa to choose between Bellingham, young midfielder Thiago Pitarch, and Brahim Diaz for the remaining place.