After the defeat to Liverpool, which has raised new alarms, Real Madrid faces a grueling December schedule with a series of challenging fixtures. Dealing with an injury crisis that complicates things for Carlo Ancelotti, the team is set to play every three days until December 22. Furthermore, five of these matches are away from home, making the upcoming month one of the toughest so far this season.

The Madrid marathon kicks off on Sunday, December 1, against Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu, a fixture always tricky for the Madridistas. However, playing at home gives the team some breathing room before entering the most difficult phase of the season. After Getafe, Madrid will travel to San Mamés on December 4 to face Athletic Club, followed by another challenging away match at Girona on December 7—two crucial La Liga games that could have a significant impact on their title hopes.

But the real challenge comes after those two matches. On December 10, the team will head to Bergamo to face Atalanta, one of the best-performing teams in the Champions League. With a record of two wins and three losses in the group stage, Real Madrid cannot afford another slip-up in Europe if they wish to avoid major complications in their qualification.

The marathon continues immediately after the Champions League match, with a visit to Vallecas on December 14 at 21:00 CET to take on Rayo Vallecano. The Vallecas stadium is traditionally a tough venue for Madrid, but at least this match doesn’t require extra travel and preparation before heading to Qatar for the second final of the season—the Intercontinental Cup, set for December 18. While the opponent is still to be determined, Madrid will enter the final as the clear favorite to secure their second title of the season, following the UEFA Super Cup.

Finally, Madrid will close out the year with a home match against Sevilla on December 22, a fixture that will be charged with emotion as it coincides with Spain’s famous Christmas Lottery Day.

In total, December will be a true test for Real Madrid, with seven matches in 22 days—five of them away—that could determine the team's mood heading into 2025.

December schedule for Real Madrid:

1st December: Real Madrid vs Getafe (La Liga)
4th December: Athletic Club vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
7th December: Girona vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
10th December: Atalanta vs Real Madrid (Champions League)
14th December: Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid (La Liga)
18th December: Intercontinental Cup Final (Doha, Qatar)
22nd December: Real Madrid vs Sevilla (La Liga)