Let’s start with Real Madrid.
Arbeloa described Tuesday’s 6-1 Champions League victory over Monaco as a “turning point”.
“It’s a night where the Bernabeu has shown that when it’s behind its team, when the Bernabeu is on our side, we are a truly great team,” he said.
“I’m delighted with the players’ desire to help the team. They’ve shown me that from day one.”
The performance will have undoubtedly boosted the confidence of the manager, the players and the supporters. And as Real Madrid prepare for a Saturday trip to third-placed Villarreal, Arbeloa knows how significant every game is.
“Tomorrow’s match is very important because of what it means, because of the opposition and because of three points that would give us a lot of confidence,” Arbeloa said.
“It’s one of the toughest games we have in the league. We know that we’ll have to be at our best and play at a very high level if we want to get the three points.”
Barcelona also head into the weekend on the back of a Champions League victory, beating Slavia Prague 4–2. They face bottom-of-the-table Oviedo.
It won’t be until May that Real Madrid and Barcelona meet again: And that match could yet prove decisive in the title race.
Real won the first Clasico of the season 2–1 in Madrid in October.
If last season is anything to go by, the title race will remain far from predictable.
At this stage last year, Real Madrid sat six points ahead of Barcelona, only for the Catalans to overturn the deficit and win the league.
Once again, there is all to play for.