Alvaro Arbeloa closing in on historic Real Madrid record — and more

Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa is building momentum on the touchline, and the numbers are beginning to tell a very interesting story. 

The former Real Madrid defender, who took over after the departure of Xabi Alonso, has guided the team to five consecutive victories in La Liga.

The wins have come against Levante, Villarreal, Rayo Vallecano, Valencia, and Real Sociedad, a run that has restored confidence around the club after a difficult stretch earlier in the season. 

The positive results have also placed Arbeloa on the brink of making history at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A record to chase

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the Spaniard is now just two wins away from matching the best start by a Real Madrid coach in the club’s history. 

The current record belongs to Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who won his first seven matches after arriving during the 2004-05 season.

The run eventually ended with a 0-2 defeat to Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Real Madrid finished the season in second place, four points behind Barcelona in the La Liga standings.

Alvaro Arbeloa is closing in on a historic Real Madrid record. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Interestingly, the second-best start in the club’s history is far more recent. It was achieved earlier this very season by Xabi Alonso himself. 

After making his debut as Real Madrid coach at the Club World Cup, Alonso oversaw six consecutive La Liga wins between August and the end of September.

During that stretch, Real Madrid defeated Osasuna, Oviedo, Mallorca, Real Sociedad, Espanyol, and Levante. The run came to an end with a heavy defeat in the Madrid derby at the Metropolitano.

To put things in perspective, we must look back at the records of the previous Real Madrid managers.

Carlo Ancelotti, arguably the most successful manager in the club’s history, won his first three matches. Furthermore, Zinedine Zidane registered two wins in his start at the club.

Lastly, Vicente del Bosque, Bernd Schuster, and Julen Lopetegui won three league matches.

Robert Lewandowski continues to defy expectations at Barcelona. 

Even with questions surrounding his age and long-term future at the club, the Polish striker remains one of the most reliable attacking figures in the squad. 

Now, as Barcelona prepare for their upcoming La Liga clash against Girona, Lewandowski has a notable record in sight. 

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the veteran forward is just one goal away from equalling a feat achieved by one of the club’s most iconic figures, Ronaldinho.

At the moment, Lewandowski has scored 79 La Liga goals in 57 appearances. If he finds the net against Girona, he will reach the mark of scoring in 58 league matches, the same number recorded by Ronaldinho during his time at Barcelona. 

The good, the bad and the ugly

Notably, the upcoming opponent could also work in his favour, as Girona are a side that Lewandowski has enjoyed facing in the past. 

Lewandowski has enjoyed scoring against Girona. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)

In fact, in five appearances against them, he has already scored four goals. That record alone will be enough to cause concern for the hosts at Montilivi, especially with Barcelona looking to secure an important result.

There is, however, an interesting twist to those previous goals. While Lewandowski has found the net against Girona, his strikes have not always influenced the final outcome. 

In the 2023-24 season, widely regarded as the best campaign in Girona’s history, he scored both at Montjuic and at Montilivi, but Barcelona still lost those matches by 2-4 and 2-4 respectively.

Things were different the last time the sides met. Lewandowski’s brace proved decisive as Barcelona secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Michel’s team. 

On that occasion, his goals directly shaped the result, showing just how important he can be when Barcelona need a cutting edge.

The Malian international, capped five times, is tied to Leicester City until 2029.

Woyo Coulibaly draws interest across Europe

After an eye-catching run at AFCON 2025 with Mali, Woyo Coulibaly's stock is on the rise. The 26-year-old right-back, under contract with Leicester City until 2029, has attracted approaches from top clubs: Real Sociedad, SSC Napoli, VfL Wolfsburg, and Olympique de Marseille are all closely monitoring his progress.

Currently on loan at US Sassuolo—without a purchase option in the deal—the Malian international (5 caps) has established himself as a regular in Serie A, making 10 appearances this season. Impressed by his contribution, coach Fabio Grosso is pushing for a permanent transfer. The Italian club's management is reportedly preparing an offer and has already begun discussions with Leicester.

Joining the Foxes in January 2025 from Parma Calcio 1913 for a fee estimated between €3 and €4 million, Coulibaly is now valued at around €2 million. The big question is whether Sassuolo can outpace the European competition in this transfer battle.