Stats: Real Madrid have lost more games under Arbeloa already than they did under Xabi Alonso | OneFootball

There is an increasingly loud debate surrounding Real Madrid’s direction this season, and at the centre of it lies a key question – are Los Blancos actually better under Alvaro Arbeloa, or did they let go of something more stable under Xabi Alonso too soon?

On the surface, there are reasons for optimism. 

Even after the 1-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg, the tie remains very much alive. 

A one-goal deficit is far from decisive, and there is a growing belief within the club that a comeback in Munich is achievable.

However, scratch beneath that optimism, and the picture becomes far more complex.

Real Madrid’s record under Arbeloa and Alonso

While Arbeloa has brought fresh ideas and a different energy to the team, results have not always followed consistently. 

In fact, under Alonso, Real Madrid suffered five defeats across 28 matches, which was a relatively controlled record for a team competing on multiple fronts. 

Under Arbeloa, though, that figure has already been surpassed, with six losses coming in just 19 games.

That contrast naturally raises questions about stability and direction.

Real Madrid have lost more games under Arbeloa than under Alonso. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Even when looking at win percentage, the difference is marginal but telling, as Alonso operated at 73.7%, while Arbeloa’s current rate stands at 72.2%. 

It is not a dramatic drop, but in a club like Real Madrid, it is enough to fuel debate.

Evident differences

Of course, numbers alone do not tell the whole story. 

Alonso’s tenure ended amid internal disagreements and dressing room tensions, which ultimately cut short what many believed was a promising project. 

In that sense, Arbeloa inherited a situation that required immediate management both on and off the pitch.

The Champions League offers Arbeloa a chance to finish his tenure on a high note, as a strong performance in Munich could instantly change perceptions and inject belief into the project. 

Progress in Europe has always carried significant weight at Real Madrid, and it may once again prove decisive in judging the current regime.

Domestically, however, the situation is less forgiving. With a seven-point gap to Barcelona in La Liga, the margin for error is minimal, and there is much reliance on the Blaugrana’s results rather than their own victories.