In the 28th round of La Liga, Real Madrid reversed Villarreal 2-1 away to temporarily top the table with a 3-point advantage. The win did not come easily, especially as Real Madrid played two tough games in less than three days. After the final whistle, Real Madrid’s players looked tired, with Mbappe rubbing his knees and gasping for air, while Bellingham fell to his knees, exhausted.
It is not that Real Madrid’s players are weak, but that the schedule is too tight. Less than three days ago, Real Madrid were physically and mentally exhausted after a 120-minute battle and penalty shoot-out in the Champions League. However, they had less than 66 hours’ rest before facing Villarreal, who are fifth in the La Liga table. This arrangement is undoubtedly a great test of the physical strength of the players.
In response, Real Madrid issued a strong statement on RMTV before the current round of La Liga: after this round, Real Madrid will not participate in any matches that do not meet FIFA’s recommendation and have less than 72 hours of rest. The club will seek support from FIFA to defend the rights of the players.
Coach Ancelotti also expressed a resolute attitude in the post-match press conference: “Yes, this is the last time we play under the condition of less than 72 hours rest! We’ll never do that again. We have asked La Liga twice to change the schedule, but nothing has happened. This is the last time. If it is arranged like this again, we will strike.”
Real’s displeasure was understandable, as the clash between Atletico and Barcelona, who also play in the Champions League, was scheduled a day later, giving both teams more time to rest. Fatigue not only affects a player’s performance but also increases the risk of injury. Real Madrid’s protest undoubtedly represents the desire and voice of many European giants for a reasonable schedule.
