Dropped points, cup exits, rifts and fights: A timeline of how Real Madrid’s season unraveled under Arbeloa

To say everything is not all rosy inside the Real Madrid dressing room would appear to be quite the understatement. On Thursday, it was reported that Fede Valverde had been taken to hospital requiring stitches after a fight with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni, the second consecutive day in which the two had shown hostility toward one another.

The bloody bust-up marks the climax, for now anyway, of Álvaro Arbeloa’s increasingly turbulent time in charge, which began disastrously, recovered quickly to show moments of promise in LaLiga and the Champions League, before unraveling in spectacular fashion.

The last few weeks of the former Madrid defender’s reign have been characterized by poor performances, dropped points, indiscipline and infighting, and there is a real chance Los Blancos are just days away from officially surrendering the league title to Barcelona in El Clásico, the ultimate embarrassment for anyone connected with the club.

This is how, and when, things went wrong for Arbeloa after taking over from Xabi Alonso on Jan. 12.

A disastrous beginning

Jan. 14: Knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Albacete in Arbeloa’s very first game

Jan. 28: A 4-2 defeat to Benfica forces Real Madrid into the Champions League playoffs against the same opponents rather than direct qualification for the round of 16

Feb. 14: Real Madrid go top of the LaLiga table after being four points behind when Arbeloa took over

Feb. 21: A 2-1 defeat at Osasuna sees Real Madrid surrender top spot in LaLiga to Barcelona

Injuries and momentum swings

Feb. 25: Kylian Mbappé ruled out for three weeks with a recurring knee injury, missing five games

March 3: Madrid fall four points behind Barça after a shock 1-0 home defeat to Getafe. Rodrygo suffers ACL tear.

March 11: A 3-0 home win over Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16

March 17: A 2-1 win away to City secures a 5-1 aggregate victory and a place in the quarterfinals

Collapse in Europe and LaLiga

April 4: A 2-1 defeat at Mallorca sees Madrid slip seven points behind Barcelona

April 7: A 2-1 home defeat against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals

April 10: A 1-1 draw at home to Girona allows Barcelona to move nine points clear

April 15: A 4-3 defeat at Bayern confirms Champions League elimination, losing 6-4 on aggregate

April 21: Éder Militão suffers a serious hamstring injury and is ruled out until next season

Dressing room unrest boils over

April 23: Arbeloa forced to deny rumors of a rift with Dani Carvajal

April 24: A 1-1 draw at Betis allows Barça to extend its lead to 11 points

May 2: Reports emerge of a falling out between Arbeloa and Dani Ceballos

May 3: Mbappé lands in Madrid 12 minutes before the Espanyol game after vacationing in Italy, with fans questioning his commitment

May 5: Álvaro Carreras takes to social media to address rumors of two altercations with Antonio Rüdiger, who had allegedly slapped him

May 6: Rumors emerge that six Madrid players have stopped speaking to Arbeloa

May 7: Fede Valverde taken to hospital after a training ground fight with Aurélien Tchouaméni

El Clásico looms

May 10: Real Madrid are set to face Barcelona, who will win the LaLiga title by avoiding defeat in El Clásico

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