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As it turns out, the ‘power of friendship’ was not enough for Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich
TL;DR
Real Madrid's interim coach Álvaro Arbeloa previously emphasized the 'power of friendship' as a key to success. However, the team faced elimination from all competitions after their UEFA Champions League quarter-final match against Bayern Munich on April 15, 2026.
MUNICH, GERMANY - APRIL 15: Real Madrid Manager Alvaro Arbeloa looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern M¸nchen and Real Madrid CF at Football Arena Munich on April 15, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just a few weeks ago, Real Madrid interim head coach Álvaro Arbeloa was out in the media slinging some My Little Pony-esque phrasing that his team could overcome everything, simply through the “power of friendship.”
“We have to use the power of friendship. The power of family,” said potential Brony Arebola back on March 23rd.
In theory, it sounded great for a team, who might be on the verge of a miracle run…not one about to be eliminated from all of its eligible competitions.
Maybe it just takes more than friendship to turns a season around…who would have thought?
Bayern Munich took down Real Madrid 4-3 in the second leg of their Champions League tie (6-4 on aggregate) to move on to the UCL semifinals against Paris Saint-Germain in what will be a firecracker of a tie.
No rest for the weary, right?
Anyway, the “power of friendship” has been defeated and sometimes you have to play smart — and as a team — to overcome a big obstacle.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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Q&A
What did Álvaro Arbeloa say about the power of friendship before the match?
Álvaro Arbeloa stated that Real Madrid needed to use the 'power of friendship' and 'power of family' to succeed in their upcoming matches.
When did Real Madrid get eliminated from the UEFA Champions League?
Real Madrid was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on April 15, 2026, during the quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.
What were the consequences of Real Madrid's elimination from all competitions?
The elimination marked a significant setback for Real Madrid, as it ended their hopes for a miracle run in the season and raised questions about the team's future direction.
