The ongoing debate over La Liga‘s congested schedule continues to stir controversy at Real Madrid‘s Valdebebas training ground. Last season, the club expressed its frustrations with La Liga after being forced to play two matches with less than 72 hours of rest between them. Carlo Ancelotti’s squad even threatened to strike, although this did not lead to any changes. As the current season unfolds, history appears to be repeating itself, with Xabi Alonso‘s men set to have only 70 hours between their fixtures against Girona and Athletic Club.
La Liga recently announced that two matches from Matchday 19 will be postponed due to the Supercopa de España. As it stands, Real Madrid will travel to Bilbao for their match on January 11 but will first face Girona at Montilivi on November 30 at 21:00. This means that the players will have a mere 70 hours to recuperate before making the trip to the Basque Country. Such scheduling has already drawn ire from the club, reminiscent of last season’s grievances.
Frustration Over Scheduling
Despite having less than three full days of rest, it seems Real Madrid is opting for a more measured response compared to previous seasons. In March of last year, the club was left fuming after learning they would have only 66 hours between a derby match and a trip to Villarreal. At that time, they submitted two requests to La Liga for a postponement, which went unheeded. This season, however, the situation is somewhat different as other clubs are also feeling the strain of a packed schedule.
Shared Burden Among Clubs
Atletico Madrid also finds itself in a similar predicament, having just 65 hours to prepare for their own crucial derby match against Real Madrid. The Rojiblancos have voiced concerns about how such tight scheduling hampers proper match preparation. Nevertheless, both clubs acknowledge that they are not alone in facing these challenges this season, which may lessen the frustration felt by the players and coaching staff.
The intense calendar not only affects player fitness but also raises questions about the integrity of competition within La Liga. With teams struggling to prepare adequately for matches, fans may wonder how this could impact overall performance levels in one of Europe’s top leagues. As Real Madrid gears up for these critical clashes, it remains to be seen how they will navigate the challenges posed by this relentless schedule.
As the pressure mounts on Ancelotti and his squad, can they rise above these adversities and maintain their title challenge? With key matches approaching, all eyes will be on how they manage this demanding period.
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