Arbeloa has ‘four finals’ to prove himself as Real Madrid enter season-defining stretch | OneFootball

Alvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid are about to emerge from a rare two-week period of focused training into a whirlwind schedule that will likely determine the fate of their season.

With the club still reeling from their failures in the Super Cup and Copa del Rey, the next 12 days have been internally framed as four finals, reports AS.

Season-defining stretch for Real Madrid

The marathon begins this Saturday as Madrid host a resurgent Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu, followed by a daunting trip to face Osasuna at El Sadar.

These domestic fixtures are critical; sitting just one point behind Barcelona, any slip-up could allow the Catalans to pull away as they face relegation-threatened opposition.

Interspersed between these league clashes is a high-stakes Champions League playoff against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.

Having failed to secure a Top 8 spot, Madrid must now navigate a two-legged tie on February 17 and 25 to reach the Round of 16.

Real Madrid’s hopes for the season lie in the upcoming four matches. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The Portuguese side already humbled Arbeloa with a 4-2 victory in the group phase, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin notably scoring a late goal.

Fitness guru Antonio Pintus has utilised the recent break to implement gruelling physical sessions, but the squad remains severely depleted.

The onus is now on Arbeloa must navigate these finals without several key pillars, as Rodrygo is currently sidelined with hamstring tendinosis and suspended for the Benfica tie.

Furthermore, defensive and midfield absences continue with Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham remaining out, while Marco Asensio is struggling with a tibia fracture, and Kylian Mbappe continues to struggle with a lingering left knee injury.

In that respect, Real Madrid are betting heavily on the fitness of Antonio Rudiger, who is seen as a Champions League expert of sorts.

With two major titles still within reach, Arbeloa’s men must now prove they can grit their teeth and survive the most demanding stretch of the campaign.