Real Madrid needs to dig deep during a hectic December

MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 06: General view inside the stadium prior to the Spanish Copa del Rey second leg match between Real Madrid and UD Melilla at Santiago Bernabeu on December 06, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - DECEMBER 06: General view inside the stadium prior to the Spanish Copa del Rey second leg match between Real Madrid and UD Melilla at Santiago Bernabeu on December 06, 2018 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 01: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga match between Real Madrid v Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu on December 1, 2018 in Madrid Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 01: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga match between Real Madrid v Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu on December 1, 2018 in Madrid Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images)

La Liga

Half of Real Madrid’s fixtures in the month of December will take place in league play. With three matches on the books, it is important that Madrid snatch all nine points that are available to them. Madrid’s three league matches of the month will be played against Valencia, Huesca, and Rayo Vallecano.

Madrid has already played the first, which was a 2-0 win over Valencia this past weekend. Valencia handed the Whites an own goal which helped out plenty as they managed to hold the lead for the remainder of the match.

Real’s next two matches against Huesca and Rayo – who are both sitting in the bottom half of the table – should be rather easy matches for the European giants. Heusca and Rayo have conceded 29 and 28 goals respectively with just three wins in total between the two of them.

It is important that Real Madrid capitalize on this opportunity to secure crucial points. Currently, they sit five points off the league leaders, FC Barcelona, and as the season starts to dwindle down, this could be the most crucial stretch during the long season.

Los Blancos have dropped points this season to teams that they should have beat, such as its 3-0 loss to Eibar. Solari can make great use of these two matches to find a balance of a starting XI mixed with experienced players as well as some of the youth.

This is the time of the season that Madrid will look back on and regret if they do not bring its A-game to the pitch.