Javier Tebas bites back at Real Madrid over La Liga request

Real Madrid's extended 2024-25 season concluded with a 4-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-final in New Jersey. Xabi Alonso's squad will now take a break before the new campaign begins next month.

The team is scheduled to return for pre-season training in early August, with their first match of the 2025-26 La Liga season set for August 19th against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid requested this fixture be postponed to allow players extra preparation time due to their late return from the Club World Cup.

However, La Liga president Javier Tebas officially denied this request. Tebas explained that the decision rests with the league, stating PSG and Chelsea aren't changing their opening league matches despite similar Club World Cup participation. He noted Real Madrid will have 20 days of preparation instead of the desired 21, dismissing the significance of one day: "I don’t think they will lose the game... because of one day."

Following a disappointing 2024-25 season where they failed to win major trophies beyond the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup, Real Madrid needs significant improvement under Alonso. The manager now has less than three weeks of uninterrupted preparation time before the Osasuna match, significantly less than rivals like Barcelona who have over a month.