- La Liga president Tebas affirms no postponement for Madrid’s season kickoff
- References made to Chelsea in the Premier League and PSG in Ligue 1
- Madrid submitted a formal request to reschedule the match for additional recovery time
La Liga Denies Real Madrid’s Request for Season Opener Delay
Real Madrid and their manager Xabi Alonso have encountered a major obstacle from La Liga chief Javier Tebas, as he has definitively turned down the team’s bid to push back their initial league clash with Osasuna on August 19. This comes after Madrid sought extra time to recuperate following their deep run to the Club World Cup semi-finals, highlighting ongoing debates about player fatigue in elite football.
Background on the Dispute and Player Welfare Concerns
Recent developments show that Tebas has outright rejected any adjustments to the La Liga calendar for the 2025-26 season, contrary to earlier claims from organizations like the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) and various clubs. In contrast to reports from sources such as Cadena SER and The Athletic, which suggested an agreement in May involving Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and key figures like captains Dani Carvajal and Koke, no changes will occur. This tentative pact was meant to accommodate teams advancing to the Club World Cup quarter-finals for the sake of athlete well-being, but Madrid’s exit on July 9 against Paris Saint-Germain hasn’t swayed the decision. For instance, while Atletico exited earlier at the group stage, the focus remains on how such scheduling impacts teams like Madrid in an increasingly packed international calendar, where recent statistics from UEFA indicate that top clubs play an average of 60 matches per season, up from 50 a decade ago.
Tebas’s Rationale and Comparisons to Other Leagues
Tebas justified his stance by pointing out that Madrid players will still get about 20 days of rest rather than 21, drawing parallels to how other major leagues handle similar situations. He specifically mentioned Chelsea in the Premier League and PSG in Ligue 1, neither of which altered their schedules for comparable reasons. “We shouldn’t disrupt the entire lineup just for a single day’s difference,” Tebas explained, emphasizing a broader perspective on fairness across European football. This approach echoes recent trends, such as the Premier League’s firm stance on fixture congestion, as seen in their 2024-25 season where no delays were granted despite injury concerns for several teams.
Implications for Real Madrid’s Preparations
With the fixture against Osasuna set to go ahead on August 19, Alonso faces mounting challenges following Real Madrid’s disappointing 4-0 loss to PSG in the Club World Cup semi-finals. Reports suggest he plans discussions with star forwards like Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe to refine strategies for the upcoming campaign. Additionally, Spanish media outlets indicate that the Real Madrid hierarchy is poised to support Alonso’s decisions fully, potentially including roster adjustments if key players don’t align with his vision, amid a landscape where recent transfer windows have seen clubs like Barcelona invest heavily in youth to manage fatigue.
