Arnold unexpectedly penalized by Real Madrid for lack of attendance

Alexander-Arnold benched for Madrid derby due to disciplinary breach in recent training, despite his form gradually improving at Real Madrid.

Trent Alexander-Arnold just endured a forgettable week. After being omitted from Thomas Tuchel's 35-man England squad, this defender faced another shock by not starting in the Madrid derby.

The reason stems not from performance but from disciplinary issues. Alexander-Arnold arrived late to a recent training session and was immediately sanctioned internally. Real Madrid's coaching staff decided to bench him, giving the opportunity to Dani Carvajal. This detail also highlights that discipline is prioritized at the Royal club.

In the tense derby against Atletico Madrid, Alexander-Arnold was only introduced for about the final 15 minutes when the outcome was largely settled. On the pitch, Real Madrid still secured a thrilling 3-2 victory thanks to a double from Vinicius Junior and a goal from Federico Valverde.

For Atletico Madrid, Ademola Lookman and Nahuel Molina scored successively but couldn't reverse the situation. Despite playing with a man shortage late in the match after Valverde's red card, Real Madrid preserved the score to maintain a 4-point gap over Barcelona in the standings.

Joining Real Madrid from Liverpool in summer 2025, Alexander-Arnold has made 21 appearances, including 14 starts. However, his journey in Spain hasn't been easy, constantly affected by injuries and adaptation process.

Notably, as his form began improving, especially after contributions in the Champions League, the lateness incident caused the English defender to lose standing with the coaching staff. At national team level, his opportunities also narrowed as Tuchel stated this was a "technical decision," preferring other options given Reece James' ongoing injury.

A seemingly minor disciplinary issue became a significant setback for Trent Alexander-Arnold during this sensitive period. With trust from the club's coaching staff and opportunities with the England national team both impacted, this defender clearly needs to quickly regain stability if he doesn't want his Real Madrid journey to continue veering off course.