Trent Alexander-Arnold Under Fire from Spanish Media Despite Real Madrid Champions League Victory

Trent Alexander-Arnold, the former Liverpool star now at Real Madrid, has drawn mixed reviews from the Spanish press after his display in the Champions League playoff second leg against Benfica.

Real Madrid secured a 2-1 win at the Santiago Bernabeu, advancing 3-1 on aggregate to the round of 16, but the 27-year-old right-back’s performance remains a hot topic amid ongoing scrutiny of his adaptation to life in Spain.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Real Madrid Performance in Benfica Match

In the clash against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica, Trent Alexander-Arnold started and played the full 90 minutes.

Real Madrid had to come from behind after Rafa Silva gave Benfica the lead following a save from Thibaut Courtois.

Goals from Aurelien Tchouameni and Vinicius Junior turned the game around, ensuring Real Madrid’s progression.

The team will now face either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon in the next round, with the Champions League draw set for Friday.

Despite the victory, Alexander-Arnold’s individual showing has highlighted the intense expectations at Real Madrid, where every aspect of his game is dissected, even in wins.

Alexander-Arnold suffered a thigh injury three months ago but the Spanish press are not letting up on the criticism of his performances.

Spanish Media Verdict on Trent Alexander-Arnold Defensive Issues

Sport delivered one of the harshest assessments, rating Trent Alexander-Arnold a five out of 10.

The outlet criticized his marking as nonexistent and noted he was repeatedly outplayed by Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup.

While acknowledging his ability to deliver good crosses and accurate passes, Sport argued this does not compensate for his defensive fragility in high-stakes matches like the Champions League.

Alexander-Arnold created one chance that should have led to a goal, but his overall defensive lapses were the focus.

Positive Notes in Trent Alexander-Arnold Real Madrid Reviews

AS offered a more balanced view of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid outing.

The publication praised how his presence changes the face of Real Madrid’s attack, highlighting his excellent passing and several crosses into the box.

They noted he deserved an assist for setting up Fede Valverde and felt he covered well defensively.

AS summed up by saying he continues to take steps forward, also crediting a decisive interception in the first half.

Marca Analysis of Trent Alexander-Arnold Benfica Display

Marca focused primarily on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive contributions in the Real Madrid Benfica encounter.

While praising his decisive interception early on, the outlet partly blamed him for being largely inactive in the build-up to Rafa Silva’s opening goal.

This mixed review underscores the challenges Alexander-Arnold faces in balancing his renowned attacking prowess with solid defending at Real Madrid. Alexander-Arnold was without the injured Kylian Mbappe up front, which added to the lack of creativity throughout his game.

Mundo Deportivo Take on Trent Alexander-Arnold Champions League Form

Mundo Deportivo provided a lukewarm evaluation of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance against Benfica.

Describing his defensive work as fine but nothing special, the publication downplayed his chance creation, bluntly summarizing his attacking output as all crosses and more crosses.

This verdict reflects a broader narrative of adaptation for the ex-Liverpool defender in the demanding environment of Real Madrid Champions League games.