Real Madrid want to postpone opening La Liga game to give players respite

Real Madrid have reportedly asked La Liga to postpone their opening fixture of the season until October.

Cadena SER and AS report the club have been in discussions with opponents Osasuna, as well as the Spanish Football Federation, in a bid to get the game put back after Madrid reached the semi-finals of the Club World Cup.

If La Liga refuse the request, it is likely Madrid will take their case to the Competitions Committee.

41 days to be back at LALIGA… pic.twitter.com/Mwq0TJYyQO

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) July 7, 2025

The game was originally set for Tuesday, August 19, the final game of matchday one, but Madrid claim that does not give their players the mandatory three-week break written into the league’s rules as well as three weeks of pre-season.

Players’ union back Madrid

The players’ union, the AFE, have also written to La Liga to offer their support.

Madrid, who face Paris Saint-Germain in New York on Wednesday evening, have requested a new date of October 29. That midweek is currently slated for the Copa del Rey but Madrid do not enter the competition until a later stage. Osasuna are due to play, however, so a new date will have to be found for their fixture.

Player burn-out has been a hot topic in recent weeks after FIFA opted to expand the Club World Cup to 32 teams, meaning several leading players are now exposed to a relentless schedule that started with last summer’s continental tournaments in Europe and South America and will run through to next year’s World Cup.

Madrid received support from an unlikely source with Barcelona winger Raphinha admitting players are never consulted regarding the calendar.

The Brazil international, whose team are not involved this summer but will likely play in future Club World Cups, said: “You have to go, period, because we follow orders; we have to be there playing. And, as a player for a European club, giving up my vacation to play in a new tournament is very complicated.

“It’s really bad having to give up your vacation to play something you’re forced to, because at no point did they ask us players about anything. At no point did they ask us if we wanted to play or what the ideal dates were. They just said we had to go and that’s it.”

Guardiola concerned players will hit the wall in winter

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, whose side lost in the round of 16 to Al-Hilal, has expressed his concern that the effects of this summer’s exertions will not be felt until winter.

He said: “Let’s see what happens after the final. We can rest and take the time that the Premier League has allowed us to rest and then we will see.

“Maybe in November, December or January, it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us. I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our lives that this has happened.

“Mentally, I think in the past the players have played in World Cups or European Championships for their national teams, so it happens sometimes. You need a rest mentally sometimes, you can recover and then we will see when we come back.”

Adblock test (Why?)