Álvaro Carreras Overcomes Setbacks to Shine Against Valencia

Álvaro Carreras has endured one of his most challenging weeks since joining Real Madrid. The left-back was highlighted by Álvaro Arbeloa after the team’s defeat to Benfica, and he did not see any playing time against Rayo Vallecano. This marked his first benching of the season in LaLiga, coming on the heels of events at Da Luz, with a midfielder, Camavinga, taking his position. This unexpected decision was disheartening for the player but served as motivation for him to work even harder and demonstrate against Valencia that he can command the left flank for Madrid.

In the match against Valencia, Carreras scored his second goal while wearing the Real Madrid jersey. He broke through for the team with a goal following an impressive solo effort in the 65th minute, steering the Madrid victory at Mestalla. “I saw the space, took my shot, and thankfully it went in,” he explained. He had already found the net against Valencia earlier in the season, but what truly stood out in this match was his defensive solidity and offensive contributions, which are often called for, and which he maximized in the absence of Vinicius.

He concluded the match with five recoveries, four clearances, one interception, completed 35 out of 39 passes in the opponent’s half, and successfully executed two dribbles. These statistics reflect his offensive and defensive performance, earning him the title of MVP for the match.

Since his arrival at Real Madrid, Carreras has focused on enhancing his defensive capabilities. Sharing the flank with Vinicius presents two scenarios: defending in an inferior position and having less influence in the attacking half. He has understood this dynamic perfectly. Gone are the days of the offensive freedom he enjoyed at Benfica, where he scored five goals and provided six assists in 68 matches. Madrid operates differently.

“For me, it is crucial to keep a clean sheet and not allow clear opportunities for the opposing team because we know we will create chances up front and eventually convert them. We must continue working as a team and push toward our objectives,” he stated in remarks to RMTV.

What hurt Carreras most was not being benched against Rayo Vallecano, but the surprise of seeing a midfielder like Camavinga chosen to replace him in the starting lineup instead of his positional companion, Fran García. With Camavinga and Valverde lined up as full-backs, none of Carreras, Fran, Alaba, or Carvajal were considered options for Arbeloa, leaving everyone perplexed.

Just hours after the match against Rayo, Carreras shared a gym photo on his social media with the caption “Working.” This was a clear statement of intent to maintain his place in the starting eleven. It marked the beginning of a week filled with hard work, culminating in a goal and the MVP award, which he dedicated to his father, Fran, who celebrated his birthday last Thursday.