Real Madrid is now in the semifinals of the Club World Cup, where this week they will face PSG in a thrilling match that will be a real test for Xabi Alonso’s team, which has been improving with every game during the tournament and is now looking to consolidate its position and reach the final on July 13. While the team is focused on the United States, the LaLiga schedule has been released, which is uncertain for the Whites due to the tournament they are currently playing.
Real Madrid and the first matchday
Before the start of the tournament with the Whites and Atleti as participants, AFE had requested that, given the situation of both teams, the start of LaLiga be postponed to August 24, but the tight schedule made that option impossible. The postponement of the first matchday of LaLiga for Real Madrid if they made it past the round of 16 or quarterfinals in the World Cup is a prior agreement approved at a meeting between LaLiga, RFEF, and AFE.
LaLiga, which announced the schedule for the first matchday on Saturday, remains adamant that it will not postpone Real Madrid’s debut, as the team is already in the semifinals. The club and the union are preparing a joint response to urge Tebas to respect the agreement to delay the start of the league. They are asking for three weeks of vacation and another three weeks of preseason training to be guaranteed.
In recent weeks, Javier Tebas’ statements have revealed his unwillingness to budge on this issue. “The other leagues are not going to delay their start because of the Club World Cup…” and “We will see what decisions need to be taken with the relevant bodies,” are some of his statements.
According to the schedule set by LaLiga, Xabi Alonso’s team will kick off the season on Tuesday 19 at 9 p.m. at the Santiago Bernabéu against Osasuna. At the very least, the Whites will not be able to start their preseason before July 30 and will only have 18 days to prepare for their first domestic competition match.
This is Real Madrid’s schedule: key dates
Beyond that first matchday, Real Madrid has learned more key dates on its calendar in the draw. The home opener against Osasuna is the first step in a domestic competition that will see them face newly promoted Real Oviedo at the Carlos Tartiere. On the other hand, the last match will be at the Santiago Bernabéu against Athletic Club on the weekend of May 23-24.
As for the Clásicos against Barça, the first will be on the last weekend of October, corresponding to matchday 10, at the Santiago Bernabéu. The second leg will be played on matchday 35 (weekend of May 9-10) at the Camp Nou. The derby against Atlético de Madrid will also be important, taking place on matchday seven (September 27-28) at the Metropolitano. The second leg against Atlético will be on matchday 29 (March 21-22 weekend) and will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu.