What happened
Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said the club still has a healthy dressing room despite acknowledging the strain of going two seasons without a trophy. He said the squad must reflect, improve and stay ambitious, pushing back on suggestions that the locker room has fractured.
Why it matters
The remarks matter because Real Madrid head into El Clasico under heavy scrutiny after recent internal tensions and poor results. Barcelona lead Madrid by 11 points with four matches left and can clinch La Liga with a win or draw on Sunday, so Arbeloa's message is aimed at stabilizing the squad before a title-defining match. The comments also follow Arbeloa's public defense of Mbappe's injury-rehab holiday trip earlier this week.
The data edge
Real Madrid trail Barcelona by 11 points with four rounds remaining. Federico Valverde is set to miss 10-14 days with head trauma after the recent incident involving Aurelien Tchouameni. Ferland Mendy has a right rectus femoris tendon injury, while Kylian Mbappe has a left hamstring injury. No verified betting line movement data was available from this signal.
What to watch
Watch Real Madrid's team sheet and any disciplinary updates ahead of Sunday's Clasico against Barcelona. The result will shape whether Madrid keep the title race alive or see Barcelona seal the league.