Despite Real Madrid’s Champions League progression, Trent Alexander-Arnold faced harsh criticism from Spanish media outlets regarding his defensive reliability during the victory over Benfica.
Spanish media delivered a polarized response to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s display in Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Benfica.
While AS noted he “changes the face of Real Madrid’s attack” with superior passing, Sport issued a scathing 5/10 rating.
The publication claimed “his marking is nonexistent,” suggesting the former Liverpool star was repeatedly outplayed by winger Andreas Schjelderup throughout the high-stakes European encounter.
The scrutiny intensified as Marca partially blamed the right-back for Benfica’s opening goal, noting he was “largely inactive” during the build-up.
Although his crossing remained a focal point, Mundo Deportivo dismissed his offensive output as “all crosses and more crosses.”
Critics argued that “his ability to deliver good crosses and accurate passes doesn’t compensate for his defensive fragility in demanding matches.”