Real Madrid have had to revise their preseason plans after closing out the 2024/25 campaign with a tough loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final. The tournament, which ran into July, left the squad with very little time to recover and prepare for the upcoming season.
The club twice asked La Liga to push back their opening match of the 2025/26 season—set for August 19 at home against Osasuna—citing a lack of adequate recovery and preparation time. Both requests were rejected by the league, with president Javier Tebas publicly defending the decision. An appeal for an independent review was also dismissed, meaning the fixture will go ahead as scheduled.
The ruling has sparked frustration within the club, especially given the physical toll of the extended season on the players. With minimal downtime between competitions, Madrid’s coaching staff have been forced to accelerate preparations.
One warm-up game confirmed
After initially raising eyebrows by opting out of any preseason friendlies, Real Madrid have now confirmed one warm-up match ahead of their La Liga opener. The team will travel to Austria to face WSG Tirol on August 12 at Tivoli Stadion in Innsbruck, with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time.
Head coach Xabi Alonso is expected to take a strong squad to Austria as he looks to sharpen the team’s match fitness and tactical rhythm. The late addition of a single preseason match reflects the club’s urgency to make the most of limited preparation time. The players are currently undergoing medical tests and physical assessments at the training center before the team departs for Austria.
Despite the compressed timeline, the coaching staff remains focused on getting the squad in top shape before the season begins. Training sessions are being run at a high intensity to quickly rebuild fitness levels and restore match sharpness.
Key players still sidelined
While the squad will be close to full strength for the trip to Austria, a few key names will be missing. Jude Bellingham won’t be part of the travelling party as he continues his recovery following a delayed shoulder operation. The England international had been managing the issue for several months, and the surgery, performed after the Club World Cup, was deemed necessary. He’s expected to remain out of action until at least November.
With several important players missing and little time to prepare, Real Madrid face a challenging start to the new campaign. However, the club hopes that the added friendly match and an intense training period will be enough to get the team ready for competitive action by August 19.
