Álvaro Arbeloa reached a milestone after guiding Real Madrid to a 1–0 win over Benfica in their Champions League playoff first leg. The victory in Portugal gave Madrid an important edge before the return match.
The only goal came from Vinicius Junior, whose strike secured the result and extended Madrid’s strong run under Arbeloa. The team has now scored in all nine matches played with him in charge this season.
Data from OptaJose shows Madrid have netted 23 goals across those games. That makes it the best scoring start for a Madrid manager since Manuel Pellegrini, who achieved the feat in his first 10 matches during the 2009/10 season.
Madrid will try to keep their momentum when they face Osasuna in LaLiga this weekend. The strong start under Arbeloa has raised expectations as the team pushes for success in multiple competitions.
