Real Madrid keeps its momentum going and puts pressure on FC Barcelona. Álvaro Arbeloa’s men dominated Real Sociedad (4-1) at the Santiago Bernabéu, forcing their Catalan rivals to win to reclaim the top spot in La Liga.
The night was highlighted by Vinícius Júnior’s performance, highly anticipated after some tension with the fans. The Brazilian delivered on the pitch. “A night to reconcile with the Bernabéu,” summarized Julio Pulido on Cadena SER. The analyst also praised Arda Güler’s performance as a playmaker and Trent Alexander-Arnold, suggesting it was time to get the English full-back back in form.
Don’t Get Carried Away
Despite the clear victory, some are calling for caution. “I would be careful with this idea of Madrid’s resurgence,” warned Manuel Chazarri. He noted that a similar narrative emerged after the win against Villarreal CF before a setback followed.
Chazarri also reminded everyone that the real test is the UEFA Champions League. “A failure in this competition is not tolerated by Madrid. If they don’t reach the semifinals, the coach will be under pressure again,” he insisted, referring to the upcoming clash against SL Benfica.
The debate around Jude Bellingham also came up. Injured against Rayo Vallecano, the England international didn’t seem to be missed against Real Sociedad. Antón Meana even believes Madrid’s play looks smoother without the number 5: “Bellingham is unlucky, Real often plays better when he’s not there.”
After the final whistle, Tomás Roncero shared his analysis on Carrusel Deportivo. For him, Real is coming back at the right time and seems “on track” to fight for major titles. “Real Madrid is starting to believe it can compete for La Liga and the Champions League,” he concluded, highlighting a clear resurgence in recent weeks.
“They have strung together eight consecutive victories, five of which came under Álvaro Arbeloa. The team has regained defensive solidity, as shown at Mestalla and La Cerámica. From there, they have been able to unleash their offensive power,” analyzed Tomás Roncero.
He reminded everyone that at Mestalla, some pointed out a lack of creativity from Real Madrid. “But Vinícius Júnior, a weapon of mass destruction for any defense, was absent. When Vinícius is on the pitch, opponents suffer immensely,” he emphasized.
Roncero also highlighted Madrid’s strength at the Santiago Bernabéu this season, except for the “crazy day” against Celta de Vigo. According to him, Real is starting to believe in its chances in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
