Arbeloa shrugs off notion of spat with Mbappe

Alvaro Arbeloa insists there is no breakdown in his relationship with Kylian Mbappe, despite the Frenchman's claims that he is the "fourth-choice striker".

Mbappe returned to the Madrid squad against Real Oviedo – having missed the Clasico loss, which saw Barcelona clinch the LaLiga title – and set up Jude Bellingham's goal late on after coming off the bench to jeers.

After the match, Mbappe, who has netted 24 league goals in an injury-hit campaign, sensationally claimed that he was down the pecking order, behind Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior and Franco Mastantuono.

He also insisted he had no issues with Arbeloa, and the Madrid coach is adamant he did not tell Mbappe that he was the fourth choice.

"I've just bumped into him, I told him to stay calm," Arbeloa said in his pre-match press conference ahead of facing Sevilla on Sunday.

"I understand that these kinds of things make headlines, but it's something much more normal than you think.

"I used to be a player, I know what they can feel in these situations – playing every day, then playing less or not at all.

"I totally understand that Kylian wasn't happy about not playing on Thursday, and I like that. I wouldn't understand it if he didn't want to play. My relationship with him remains the same."

Madrid got a much-needed return to winning ways in midweek, but they face a Sevilla side that will confirm their LaLiga safety if they get a fourth win in a row.

Los Blancos have also secured a second-place finish, but the pressure is on Arbeloa after a trophyless season, with Jose Mourinho reportedly the favourite to replace him at the end of the season.

Arbeloa only took charge in January, replacing Xabi Alonso, but he would be thrilled if Mourinho was the one to succeed him in the dugout.

"For me, as a former [Madrid] player and as a Madridista, Jose Mourinho is number one. He's one of ours," Arbeloa added.

"If he comes back next year, I'll be very happy to see him back home."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sevilla – Alexis Sanchez

Veteran campaigner Sanchez has scored three goals in seven LaLiga appearances against Madrid.

Only against Getafe and Rayo Vallecano (four each) has he scored more in the competition (also three against Elche and Real Betis).

Real Madrid – Jude Bellingham

Bellingham has scored in each of his last two LaLiga matches against Sevilla (two goals in total).

Only against Girona (three games between 2023 and 2024, four goals) has he scored in more consecutive appearances against a single opponent in the competition.

MATCH PREDICTION: REAL MADRID WIN

Madrid have picked up points in each of their last six LaLiga visits to Sevilla (W5 D1), having lost six of the previous seven (W1), and they could equal their longest unbeaten away run against the Andalusians in the competition (seven games, W6 D1 between 1994 and 2003).

Madrid have also lost only one of their last 21 LaLiga away games against Andalusian teams (W15 D5), a 1-2 defeat against Real Betis in March 2025, although they have dropped points in four of their last seven such visits (W3 D3 L1).

Sevilla have failed to win any of their last 14 LaLiga matches against Madrid (D2 L12) since a 3-0 victory in September 2018, and they could equal their longest winless streak against Los Blancos in the competition (15 games, D2 L13 between 1993 and 2003).

Luis Garcia's side have, however, won their last three LaLiga matches, their best winning streak in the competition since April 2024 (W3). They have collected nine points, four more than in their previous eight league games combined (five points – W1 D2 L5).

Meanwhile, Madrid have lost three of their last six LaLiga away matches (W2 D1), suffering one more defeat across that time than across their previous 17 away games in the competition combined (W12 D3 L2).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Sevilla – 31.1%

Draw – 26.8%

Real Madrid – 42.1%