Alvaro Arbeloa remains convinced Real Madrid can overturn their Champions League deficit against Bayern Munich, despite a 2-1 home defeat in the first leg. Arbeloa sent a clear message that anyone doubting a comeback in Germany next week should not travel.
Kylian Mbappe’s goal at the Santiago Bernabeu kept Real Madrid in touch after Luis Diaz and Harry Kane struck for Bayern Munich in this quarter-final. The match featured open attacking play from both sides, yet Real Madrid could not take enough chances.
Arbeloa criticised Real Madrid’s errors in possession but highlighted the squad’s strong mindset after the defeat. The Real Madrid head coach explained that players in the dressing room immediately focused on turning the tie around in Munich
and showed confidence about the return leg.
"I think [Manuel] Neuer was MVP. We had so many chances to score more goals, but we didn’t do it," said the Real Madrid boss. "We lose two balls, and they score two goals, so we can’t lose these types of balls because their players are so fast and so quick and have so much quality. But we’re still alive, and we hope we can win in Germany. Anyone who doesn’tbelieve that should stay in Madrid. I have players with a lot of personality, and the first thing they said in the locker room was that we’re going to win there. "
The first leg in Madrid produced 20 attempts on goal for each team, underlining the attacking nature of the contest. Real Madrid created several clear openings, yet Bayern Munich stayed ahead thanks to clinical finishing and strong goalkeeping from Manuel Neuer.
Neuer delivered nine saves at the Bernabeu, repeatedly denying Real Madrid’s forwards. The Bayern Munich captain also reached 136 Champions League starts for the club, matching Lionel Messi’s tally for Barcelona and moving behind only Iker Casillas, who made 149 for Real Madrid.
| Team | Score | Total shots | Goalkeeper saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 1 | 20 | - |
| Bayern Munich | 2 | 20 | 9 (Manuel Neuer) |
We'll look for a comeback in Munich.Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) April 7, 2026
Antonio Rudiger echoed Arbeloa’s thoughts on Real Madrid’s missed chances and Neuer’s display. "It’s all about opening the scoring. We had chances to score more, but in the end, that’s how it goes," said Rudiger. "We need to shoot more, but on target. But today, Bayern’s best player was the goalkeeper, Neuer. "
The narrow 2-1 deficit leaves Real Madrid needing a win in Munich to advance, yet the away goal from Mbappe and strong belief in the squad give Arbeloa and the players confidence. The second leg now becomes a test of Real Madrid’s mentality and efficiency in front of goal.
