Report – The Real Madrid star Arbeloa sees as ‘key’ to beating Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Real Madrid will have to fire on all cylinders if they are to get the better of Bayern Munich in the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champions League next month.

The Bavarians, after all, are one of the most in-form teams in Europe at the moment and they boast of quality players and dynamics across the field.

Alvaro Arbeloa, needless to say, will need his best players to be at the peak of their powers for the clash against the German side. The returns of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham will be massive boosts, but Defensa Central relays that neither is the manager’s trump card.

A surprise X-factor

Indeed, as relayed by the Spanish outlet, Arbeloa sees Ferland Mendy as the key piece to help Real Madrid beat Bayern Munich in what comes as a rather surprising update.

The Frenchman has spent most of the season injured and has regularly suffered comebacks immediately upon making his return to the team.

Arbeloa counting on Mendy against Bayern Munich. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)

The manager, however, is said to highly rate Mendy, so much so that he sees the Frenchman to be a default starter over both Alvaro Carreras and Fran Garcia when fit.

Mendy in full flow is defensively solid, something Real Madrid requires to contain Bayern Munich’s explosive wingers. Arbeloa thus sees him as crucial to keep Michael Olise in check on the night.

The Frenchman played 45 minutes against Manchester City in the first leg of the UCL Round of 16 and dished out a solid performance, and while he did miss the team’s games after that, there is optimism that he can return to fitness after the break.

Should Mendy garner regular minutes and return to full-fitness, Arbeloa is convinced that he can be the X-factor that the team needs. The medical and coaching staff, needless to say, are working on that objective.