All eyes will be on the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday evening as French star Kylian Mbappé prepares to make his return to Real Madrid's starting lineup in a crucial Champions League playoff first leg against Benfica. Mbappé's return, following his absence from the recent league match against Real Sociedad, presents coach Álvaro Arbeloa with a real tactical test regarding how to manage the team's attacking arsenal.

The return of the strike force and the challenge of harmony

The availability of Kylian Mbappé, who leads the Champions League scoring charts with 13 goals, is a huge morale and tactical boost for Real Madrid. However, his partnership with the talented Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior reignites the age-old debate about "offensive and defensive balance." While the duo possesses individual quality capable of deciding any match, their presence together necessitates tactical sacrifices to ensure the team's defense remains intact, especially with the absence of English star Jude Bellingham due to injury, who played a pivotal role in linking the lines.

The specter of the "Galacticos" and the lessons of the past

This scene evokes memories of the first "Galácticos" era between 2000 and 2006, when Real Madrid assembled legends like Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo, and Beckham in one team. Despite the media hype and exceptional technical ability at the time, the team suffered from a lack of defensive balance, resulting in a trophy haul that fell short of expectations. Today, the current generation faces a similar challenge; possessing the best strikers in the world does not guarantee victory against opponents with a rigid tactical organization, as demonstrated by Benfica under the leadership of "The Special One," José Mourinho.

A tactical revenge match against Mourinho

The psychological context of this match cannot be ignored, as Real Madrid seeks redemption after the painful 4-2 defeat against Benfica in the group stage at the end of January. That match exposed clear weaknesses in Real Madrid's system when facing teams adept at quick transitions and exploiting the space behind the full-backs. Despite Mbappé scoring a brace that night, the team appeared helpless as a unit against Mourinho's tactical acumen and the brilliance of Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.

Arbeloa's Philosophy: Between Circumvention and the Satisfaction of the Stars

Since taking over from Xabi Alonso, Álvaro Arbeloa has adopted a strategy inspired by his mentor Carlo Ancelotti, focusing on maintaining dressing room stability and fielding star players only when they are fit, moving away from his predecessor's excessive rotation policy. This approach has yielded a significant improvement in Vinicius Junior's form, culminating in a stunning performance against Real Sociedad, where he scored twice and led the team to a 4-1 victory. Arbeloa also expressed his confidence in Mbappé, stating, "We decided not to risk him in the league so he would be ready for the Lisbon match, and he is now in excellent condition.".

The most important question that analysts and fans are asking remains: Will Real Madrid be able to repeat the defensive commitment they showed against Sociedad, as Federico Valverde stated, or will the attacking desire of the duo Mbappe and Vinicius leave the team exposed once again to Benfica’s European ambitions?

Al-Ahli's sporting director, Portuguese Rui Pedro, praised the pivotal and historic role played by his compatriot, the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo, in putting Saudi football on the world map, stressing that the Portuguese star's impact was the most prominent and main factor in the Saudi Roshan League reaching its current prestigious position among the top leagues.

The controversy surrounding the retreat and the strong comeback

Pedro's measured remarks came amidst a recent storm of controversy in sporting circles surrounding what was described as Ronaldo's "abstention" from playing for his team, Al-Nassr. Press reports had linked this absence to the "Madeira Rocket's" dissatisfaction with the team's transfer policy during the winter window, specifically his anger at the strengthening of rival squads with major signings, most notably the transfer of French striker Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad to Al-Hilal, which some considered to have disrupted the balance of competition.

This situation was reflected in Ronaldo's absence from Al-Nassr's two important matches against Al-Riyadh and Al-Ittihad in the league competitions, in addition to his non-participation in the continental match against Turkmenistan's Arkadağ in the first leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16. However, as usual, in response on the pitch, Ronaldo returned to participate strongly and scored a decisive goal that contributed to his team's victory over Al-Fateh by two goals to nil, thus closing the door on speculation about his technical readiness.

Pedro: Ronaldo opened closed doors

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Rui Pedro emphasized his deep respect for Ronaldo and all Portuguese players active in Saudi Arabia, explaining that the veteran star's decisions are his own affair. Pedro said, "It's not for me to judge how Cristiano expressed his stance or protest, but he certainly has his own reasons and motivations, which we respect.".

Al-Ahli Jeddah's sporting director, speaking about Ronaldo's impact, added: “We must be fair; the primary credit for our presence here today, as officials and world-class players, goes to Cristiano Ronaldo. He was the one who initiated the opening of Saudi Arabia's doors to the world, and this is the greatest honor we can bestow upon him.” Pedro pointed out that this impact wasn't limited to marketing alone, but that Ronaldo's technical contributions on the field remain astonishing and exceptional.

Numbers that defy time

As for the statistics that demonstrate Ronaldo's enduring passion, despite reaching the age of 41, the Portuguese star still reigns supreme as the top scorer in the Saudi League this season with 18 goals in 19 matches, a terrifying scoring rate approaching a goal per game. With this record, Ronaldo has raised his total tally with Al-Nassr to 118 goals in 134 matches across all competitions since his historic move at the beginning of 2023.

This performance is conclusive proof of Ronaldo’s high level of professional discipline, which has made him an inspiring icon not only for his teammates at Al-Nassr, but for all players in the Saudi League, confirming his exceptional presence and overwhelming influence both on and off the field, and continuing to make history in Arab stadiums.

The eyes of football fans around the world, and especially those of French football, will be on Monaco tomorrow evening, Tuesday, as the Stade Louis II opens its doors to host a highly anticipated clash. This fiery encounter pits the home side, Monaco, against their formidable visitors, Paris Saint-Germain, in the first leg of the Champions League playoff round, promising an evening of intense excitement and fierce competition.

This match takes on unprecedented historical significance, as it will be recorded in UEFA's annals as the first official encounter between these two French giants in continental competitions. This historical dimension adds a special flavor to the usual domestic "Classique," transforming it into a battle to assert French dominance on the European stage, thus raising expectations and pressure on both sides to deliver a performance worthy of French football's reputation.

Paris Saint-Germain, under the leadership of their Spanish coach Luis Enrique, enters this continental competition carrying a heavy title, as the reigning champion of the Champions League, an achievement that was accomplished for the first time in the club's history since its acquisition by Qatari management in 2011. However, the team's current situation raises many questions; PSG is suffering from a clear fluctuation in performance this season, which led to its drop to eleventh place in the Europa League group and the loss of the French league lead to its fierce rival Lens by one point, making this match a crucial opportunity for coach Enrique to restore confidence and get back on track.

On the other side, Monaco's situation doesn't look much better, as the principality's team is experiencing one of its most difficult seasons domestically. Despite narrowly securing a place in this crucial round, their results in Ligue 1 are alarming, with the team languishing in eighth place after suffering nine defeats in 22 matches. Monaco fans see this European encounter as a potential lifeline to salvage their season, as eliminating the reigning champions could be the turning point the team needs to get back on track.

The stakes are even higher when considering the road to the title, as both teams know that the winner of this two-legged tie will face a daunting challenge in the next round against one of Europe's giants: either Barcelona or Chelsea. This scenario places a double burden of responsibility on the players, as mistakes are unacceptable and the path to glory is fraught with significant risks.

Aside from the all-French clash, the European playoff night promises equally exciting encounters. All eyes will also be on Inter Milan, last season's runners-up, who appear to have an easy task on paper against Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt. However, caution is advised against the Norwegian team, who have rightfully earned the title of "dark horse" of the tournament after pulling off stunning upsets, defeating giants like Manchester City (3-1) and Atlético Madrid (2-1), making them a formidable opponent.

In the remaining highly anticipated matches, Juventus will travel to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in front of a notoriously raucous home crowd, while Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta will clash in a tactical battle at Signal Iduna Park. The second legs, scheduled for February 24th and 25th, will determine which teams advance to the round of 16.