Real Madrid star Arda Guler was caught disagreeing with head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, after being brought off in Wednesday’s 4-2 Champions League loss to Benfica.
Performing strongly in Europe this term save for losses to English giants Liverpool and Manchester City, Madrid didn’t have much to do except keep things tight in Lisbon and overcome a foe that has struggled both domestically and continentally in 2025/2026.
Well up for the fight in front of their boisterous fans at the Estadio da Luz, however, Benfica went ahead 3-1 before half time and secured a heroic 4-2 win, plus qualification to the knockout phase playoff on goal difference, thanks to goalkeeper Anatoli Trubin’s 98th minute header.
In-game, as Madrid trailed 3-2 and were searching for an equaliser to compliment Kylian Mbappe’s brace, Arbeloa reacted by making a treble substitution in the 78th minute.
Dean Hujisen had been poor in defense and had to go, while Arbeloa also took off left back Alvaro Carrera, returning to his former club, in favour of a more attacking Brahim Diaz.
Arda Guler didn’t agree with leaving Real Madrid’s first XI
In scenes akin to those witnessed in an October 2-1 win over FC Barcelona in El Clasico between Vinicius Jr. and Arbeloa’s predecessor Xabi Alonso, Guler also didn’t agree with being hooked in favour of Jorge Cestero.
Because he didn’t cover his mouth as football players in Spain often do to not cause controversies and fall outs, Turkish outlets have picked up on Guler saying “Always me, always me” as he walked around the perimeter of the bench and headed to the bench shaking his head.
The loss for Madrid resulted in them having to contest a playoff to get access to the UCL knockout phase, it remains to be seen if there’ll be any repercussions from the incident involving Guler starting with Sunday’s home hosting of Rayo Vallecano.
What Real Madrid boss Arbeloa said about the Benfica defeat
“We have lacked many things. It was a Champions League match against a team that was playing for its life and that put intensity and attacked very well. I can’t give a single reason for the defeat.
“I wasn’t surprised by Benfica. The demand of the match was going to be very high because I knew the level of the opponent and I didn’t know how to give the players the level I wanted to give and when things don’t go well, the responsibility is exclusively.”
As mentioned, Real Madrid returns to action on Sunday when it faces Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
