Arbeloa plays down aspects of performance as Madrid snatch injury-time victory

Actual Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa defended the efficiency of his facet as Federico Valverde’s injury-time winner gave them a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo and saved their LaLiga titles hopes alive.

Arebloa’s males began nicely, with Vinicius Junior hanging the publish inside the primary 10 minutes, earlier than they scored the opener by Aurelien Tchouameni after Arda Guler had set him up along with his eighth help of the season.

Nevertheless, Celta Vigo equalised by Borja Iglesias and continued to trigger issues for the Madrid defence, with Iago Aspas hanging the publish within the 87th minute.

Valverde’s deflected effort handed Madrid the win and put them only a level behind Barcelona within the desk, having performed a sport extra.

Madrid generated much less xG (0.87) than their opponents (1.05) and will muster simply three photographs heading in the right direction, however Arbeloa insisted that the victory was the one factor that mattered, as his facet continued to maintain tempo with the league leaders.

When requested if he loved the efficiency from Madrid within the post-match press convention, Arbeola stated: “We gained the sport, which is what Actual Madrid play for. Which is what we would like and the target we had immediately.

“There isn’t a higher method to have a good time these 124 years of historical past of the most effective membership on the planet, than to do it this fashion.

“Like Actual Madrid does: combating towards every little thing and everybody.

“In a match to which we got here with a variety of difficulties and casualties. I feel we now have to have a good time it for the way it has been.

“We deserved to win, regardless of every little thing that occurred within the match.”

Victory in Balaídos!

— Actual Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) March 6, 2026

Arbeloa praised Valverde’s efficiency, with the Uruguayan popping up with an important aim to attain his second of the league marketing campaign.

“All a Actual Madrid participant ought to be is Federico Valverde,” lauded the Spaniard.

“He has that ‘spirit of Juanito’.

“Right now the staff has been placed on his again, once more. Very joyful for him, he deserves it lots.”

Consideration now turns to the Champions League and the primary leg at residence to Manchester Metropolis, with Arbeloa issuing a rallying cry to the membership’s supporters forward of the match on the Santiago Bernabeu.

He stated: “We’d like them on Wednesday and so they comprehend it higher than anybody.

“We performed towards one of many nice golf equipment on the planet of soccer. However we’re a lot stronger when they’re by our facet.”