Real Madrid: Seeking Forgiveness

Real Madrid just secured one of the season's toughest victories against Alaves, though it offered no consolation and little hope in the La Liga title race against Barcelona.

This is a time when the Galacticos play to cling to the slim chances of overthrowing their great rival in the land of bullfighting. They do not want to be humiliated and cannot surrender too early, as the risk of becoming a laughingstock in the eyes of Madridistas could arise at any moment in this sensitive phase.

Goals, No Joy

The Bernabeu currently carries a cold atmosphere with whistles mocking the team's stars. Neither Vinicius nor Mbappe are spared, and Camavinga is simply swallowed by the anger from the stands.

Coach Alvaro Arbeloa's team defeated the opponent with goals from Mbappe and Vinicius, their arms pleading for forgiveness. A brilliant duo who nearly achieved everything this season now owe their fans for so much left undone.

Real won in terms of the result but lost in football and spirit. Arbeloa's team played exactly as their current situation dictates—slow, dull, lacking drama, providing no entertainment or excitement—clearly showing that the season's final phase will be very tough for them.

Even the Bernabeu reacted weakly to the goals from the club's two biggest stars. Perhaps, the loving fans no longer have the mood to share joy with the players after repeated disappointments. All the players' actions lack the emotional intensity demanded by Madridistas.

Too many questions still surround Arbeloa's lineup. The synergy between Mbappe and Vinicius has not emerged. Bellingham's leadership remains a sore point. Whether the English midfielder can someday return to being the influential figure he was two years ago.

The true value of Huijsen, Mastantuono, and Carreras, seen so far more for their high cost than their ability to deliver on the pitch. Even Arda Guler, who scored a brace against Bayern Munich last week, is not free from doubt. These are also major issues for the new season, which has somehow already begun.

Beginning or Ending with Arbeloa?

For many, this Real is an absurdity under an ordinary coach like Arbeloa. One who focused on "cherishing" players rather than finding a real football solution. Victories over Man City became lifelines in crisis but did not meet long-term demands.

The 43-year-old coach has "seriously" fulfilled victory demands, but lacks imagination, judgment, and foresight. That is understandable for someone without top-level coaching experience.

Real faces a difficult schedule in the final six matches with a coach clearly incapable of orchestrating a great overthrow. Mikel Arteta took over six years to rebuild Arsenal from ruins into a top-tier competitive team.

Yet the Basque strategist still faces heavy criticism at Emirates. That shows how "easy" a job Arbeloa received with world-class stars, and he still cannot create a machine that operates smoothly, at the very least.

This is a quiet self-destruction. They must also face Barcelona at Camp Nou, which could be a defeat as the opponent awaits them with all the greatest energy of the season's "final."

We all know that for Catalan club fans, defeating Real is almost more important than winning La Liga. That would be the ultimate disaster, the final straw after a second trophy-less season for Florentino Perez, who believed Arbeloa was better than Xabi Alonso.