Real Madrid News
Arne Slot brutally exposes Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid – ‘They did what we expected’
There is no denying the fact that it could have been a long and painful night for Real Madrid at Anfield if not for Thibaut Courtois.
Despite his heroics, though, Alexis Mac Allister eventually found a way through, scoring the decisive goal that sealed victory for Liverpool.
The contrast between the two sides coming into the clash could not have been sharper, as Real Madrid arrived in England on the back of a strong domestic run.
They were sitting comfortably at the top of La Liga, having suffered only one defeat all season.
Liverpool, however, were in the middle of a crisis. Six defeats in their last eight games had thrown Arne Slot’s ambitious million project into question.
The pressure was mounting, and the Dutch coach desperately needed a spark to turn things around.
That spark came against Aston Villa, and it seems to have carried over into the clash with Madrid.
How did they beat Real Madrid?
💥 SLOT tacha de PREVISIBLE al REAL MADRID:
— El Chiringuito TV (@elchiringuitotv) November 7, 2025
😮 "Hicieron lo que esperábamos". pic.twitter.com/8JMMeNgDeA
Speaking recently, Slot offered a revealing explanation for Liverpool’s resurgence and, in doing so, cast doubt over Alonso’s tactical flexibility.
“We have achieved that level of performance in other games when the opponent’s style of play was comparable to that.
“We always knew we could do it; I have shown them many times that when the styles of play were similar to ours, we could do the same against Madrid.
“I was not surprised by how the two games went; it was helpful for us that the other team (Real Madrid) did what we expected them to do.
“Madrid and Aston Villa did what we could expect, and I think that’s always useful,” said the defending Premier League manager.
Slot’s remarks were not just a reflection on his team’s performance, they also carried a subtle jab at Xabi Alonso.
By suggesting Madrid were predictable, the Liverpool boss implied that his side had prepared specifically for Alonso’s tactical setup and exploited it with precision.
Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid defender Rafa Obrador opens up on decision to leave: ‘Didn’t think twice’
During the summer of 2025, Real Madrid parted ways with one of their young academy talents in Rafa Obrador, selling him to SL Benfica.
The deal came as a part of the operation that saw the Los Blancos sign a former academy propsect, Alvaro Carreras, to strengthen the left-back position.
Obrador talks Real Madrid
Obrador joined the Real Madrid youth academy in the summer of 2020, signing from RCD Mallorca, a decision that he explained in a recent interview, was far from easy.
“It was a very difficult decision, because Mallorca had made me an offer that I did not like. After speaking with my agent and my family, we thought the best thing for my development was to go to Real Madrid,” he said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“Going from an island to a city like Madrid was a very big change, especially because I went alone and was still a minor. I spent two years living at the Madrid residence. At first it was difficult, but over time I adapted.”
Obrador never made a senior appearance for Real Madrid but was a regular for Castilla, having featured 68 times for the reserve team, in which he even registered six assists.
However, the chance of joining a club like Benfica, where he could get an opportunity to play first-team football was too difficult to turn down for the 22-year-old left-back.
“When Benfica called me, I did not think twice. It was a great opportunity. Every player’s dream is to play in the Champions League, and Benfica always compete in Europe. It is a giant club,” he said.
The move, however, did not pan out as expected for Obrador as he made only one senior appearance for the Portuguese giants, before being loaned out to Torino in January earlier this year.
Upon returning to the club in the summer, he was once again farmed out on loan, this time to Sassuolo.
Adapting to Italian football
Obrador discussed his experience in Serie A and what he expects from his time at Sassuolo.
“Serie A has a very important history and I think I can adapt well here. Italian football is very physical and demanding, but I really like the idea Sassuolo have: keeping the ball, playing calmly and finding spaces,” he said.
“For me, as a full-back, it also asks me to play a little more inside, not just like the typical full-back who stays close to the touchline. They want us to be versatile and able to offer different options to the team,” Obrador concluded.
