Real Madrid’s schedule is about to get complicated

Without making the Top 8, Madrid miss out on a double reward: direct qualification for the round of 16 and a “clear” schedule for the next five weeks. Finishing among the top eight would not only have allowed them to avoid the playoff, but also to focus on the league until March and give Arbeloa a kind of mini pre-season to work thoroughly with the team.

Finishing in the Top 8 would have given Arbeloa five weeks with just one match in each of them. Precious time to work at the training ground and establish his playing ideas after a frantic start: he has taken charge of five matches in his first 16 days in the job.

Now the calendar gives him some breathing room, but a shorter one. The next two weeks are clear, when the Copa quarter-finals and the first leg of the semi-finals will be played, a competition in which Madrid have already been eliminated. Madrid’s immediate fixture list presents three consecutive league games, against Rayo Vallecano (Sunday 1 February), Valencia (Sunday 8 February) and Real Sociedad (14 or 15 February).

Without the playoff there would have been six straight matches focused solely on the league battle with Barça. After that come Osasuna and Getafe, with the two playoff matches slotted in between them, and then Celta before facing the round of 16 if they get through that playoff. If they do, the last fifteen days before the next international break would also include the round of 16 tie, the game in Vigo, another against Elche at the Bernabéu and finally the derby against Atlético, also at home.

Madrid were in a very favourable position to finish not only in the Top 8 but even in the Top 4. That would have given them the advantage of playing the second leg of both the round of 16 and the quarter-finals at the Bernabéu. Now they will play the second leg of the playoff against Benfica at their stadium on La Castellana, but if they reach the round of 16 and the quarter-finals those ties would be decided away from home.

They would, however, play the second leg of a potential semi-final at the Bernabéu. To get there they would first have to knock out Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City in the round of 16 and then Arsenal or Bayern in the quarter-finals to inherit home advantage from the London or Munich side, who finished first and second in the league phase.

Related stories

Champions League

Real Madrid looks ahead to UCL Clásico/Derbi

Soccer

Real rematch: What to know about Madrid’s UCL playoff rivals

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.