The curtain may have only just fallen on the 2024/25 season, but for Real Madrid, the next act begins before the stage is even set.
If football is drama, Real Madrid are the master producers. But even for Los Blancos, the final act of last season felt extra, ending their competitive campaign on July 9 with a humbling 0-4 defeat to PSG in the Club World Cup semi-final, just as the summer heat peaked in New Jersey.
It capped an 11-month rollercoaster: European duels, domestic disappointments, and an exhausting schedule that stretched almost to the wire. Just days later, back in Madrid, pre-season kicked off with little fanfare and even less rest.
The official return to training came on August 4. That means Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid’s brand-new manager, gets only 15 days to prep his squad before the 2025/26 Liga opener against Osasuna at the Bernabeu on August 19.
For context, top clubs usually enjoy three weeks or more for tactical work, fitness, and weaving new signings into the fabric. Here, Real Madrid’s stars will barely have time to catch their breath, let alone adapt to a change of leadership and style.
Legal Battles and Lost Appeals
It is not as if Real Madrid’s board did not try. Pointing to player welfare and a need for “reasonable physical and tactical preparation,” Los Blancos requested a postponement of their first fixture. Even Osasuna were ready; they were open to shifting the date.
But the Spanish federation delivered a cold shoulder: rules guarantee 21 days of rest, not preparation, and Real Madrid had taken theirs after their New York send-off. The result? No compromise, no delay. The Merengues pushed their case all the way up the legal ladder, but found every door closed. In Spain, scheduling, even for La Liga’s biggest club, is set in stone.
Fitness, Fatigue, and A New Era for Real Madrid
The implications are clear. Real Madrid’s stars, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and company, faced a relentless run last season and now return from a minimal break to fresh preseason drills. It is a recipe for rust, which could linger until after the first international break in September.
Watch out for sluggish legs, patchy tactical shape, and players not fully adjusted to Xabi Alonso’s methods. Speaking of the Spanish tactician, the former Bernabeu favourite arrives with high expectations and a stellar record from Bayer Leverkusen.
But club legend or not, pre-season is precious for embedding new ideas. While Alonso managed Real Madrid at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, that was hardly enough for deep tactical work. If Carlo Ancelotti were still at the helm, perhaps his experience could have papered over such a short runway, but Alonso must build from scratch.
Settle In? Not So Fast
Adding to the juggling act, Real Madrid’s summer signings, like Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Franco Mastantuono, are racing the clock for chemistry and rhythm. For Madrid’s workhorses, exhaustion is real: Valverde, who played nearly every match in 2024-25, may well show the strain as the new season kicks off.
Final Whistle: The Limits of Power
For all their sway and global reach, Real Madrid’s dominance does not extend to Spain’s football calendar. The high-profile club might be the biggest in world football, but their plea for fair recovery fell on deaf ears.
As the 2025/26 season commences, Los Blancos face not only Osasuna but a bigger challenge: shaking off fatigue, embracing change, and proving that in Spanish football, even giants must play by the rules.
One thing is certain. Real Madrid’s opening month will be a test of resilience, reinvention, and whether a quick restart can fuel a new era, or simply leave them chasing fitness and form as the campaign heats up.
