Goal.comYesterday·3 min read·medium

Trent Alexander-Arnold watches from the bench as Fede Valverde scores a stunner from right-back for Real Madrid

Moataz Elgammal

✦AI Summary

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has successfully transitioned midfielder Fede Valverde to the right-back position, leaving Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench. The tactical shift has been effective, contributing to a winning streak for the club.

Why it matters

The benching of high-profile signings like Alexander-Arnold highlights the tactical evolution of Real Madrid under Mourinho's management.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid to become their first-choice right-back, but under Jose Mourinho he is now watching a midfielder do that job instead. Captain Fede Valverde started there again at Mestalla and smashed in the opener against Valencia, while Alexander-Arnold and summer signing Denzel Dumfries were left out of the starting XI once again.

Valverde lined up at right-back for Real Madrid's trip to Valencia on Saturday, with neither Alexander-Arnold nor Dumfries in Mourinho's starting XI. The Uruguayan made the call look inspired in the 28th minute, when Kylian Mbappe's free-kick was blocked by the wall and the ball rolled back to the Real Madrid captain.

Valverde controlled the ball around 20 metres out and drilled a powerful low strike into the net. Arda Guler doubled the lead eight minutes later, and the visitors went in at the break 2-0 up.

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