Trent return can help Arbeloa's Real Madrid move forward

Madrid, Spain – Trent Alexander-Arnold’s delayed Real Madrid adventure may finally be gathering momentum. After three months sidelined by hamstring and thigh complaints, the England right-back re-emerged as a second-half substitute in last weekend’s victory over Valencia and now looms as a potential catalyst for Álvaro Arbeloa’s reshaped side when high-flying Real Sociedad visit the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night.

Arbeloa, appointed in January, is still sculpting his lineup and philosophy. Integrating Alexander-Arnold’s elite distribution could accelerate that process. The 25-year-old has managed only 12 competitive appearances since his summer move from Liverpool, but his brief cameo against Valencia offered a reminder of the crossing and passing range that make him among the game’s most creative full-backs.

“After a long time out, we will proceed with caution,” Arbeloa stressed, yet Spanish daily AS reports that Madrid’s medical staff are targeting the Champions League play-off first leg against Benfica on 17 February for Alexander-Arnold’s first start since 3 December. Whether he is unleashed from the outset against La Real or eased in via another cameo, more minutes appear inevitable.

Saturday’s encounter carries added weight: a win would lift Madrid two points clear of Barcelona ahead of the Catalans’ tricky Monday trip to Girona. With Kylian Mbappé nursing knee discomfort and potentially unavailable, Alexander-Arnold’s ability to create from deep could compensate for any shortfall in attacking firepower.

Standing in the way is a Sociedad side unbeaten in nine matches and buoyed by last month’s statement win over champions Barcelona plus a Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg triumph at Athletic Bilbao. Pellegrino Matarazzo’s visitors have morphed into one of Spain’s form teams, but they have not faced a Bernabéu crowd hungry for a statement performance after recent stutters and the mid-season dismissal of predecessor Xabi Alonso.

Vinicius Junior returns from suspension to bolster Madrid’s left flank, while Thibaut Courtois – La Liga’s leading goalkeeper with 11 clean sheets – anchors a defence that could feature either veteran Dani Carvajal, academy graduate David Jiménez, or an increasingly sharp Alexander-Arnold.

For the former Liverpool star, the stage is set to showcase the attacking tool-kit Madrid fans have only glimpsed, most notably during last summer’s Club World Cup. If he can stay fit, the next five months present a gilt-edged chance to entrench himself as a cornerstone of Arbeloa’s project and help deliver the silverware that Madrid crave.

Kick-off on Saturday is scheduled for 20:00 local time, the marquee fixture of a packed La Liga slate that also sees Atletico Madrid’s new signing Ademola Lookman aiming for a first Spanish-top-flight goal in the derby at Rayo Vallecano after being kept quiet by Real Betis last time out.

Alexander-Arnold, fit and eager, could prove the difference in a title race poised on a knife-edge.