Real Madrid’s request to move their La Liga fixture against Alaves has been rejected by the league. The match is scheduled for Sunday, April 14, at 3:15 pm CEST. Real Madrid had asked Alaves if they were comfortable with the match being brought forward to Saturday, April 13, but La Liga denied the request, citing that it was submitted too late.
According to reports, La Liga designated Sunday as the day for the match against Alaves due to the eight-day gap between the two legs of Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Arsenal. Real Madrid’s defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday means they need to overturn a three-goal deficit in the second leg.
“La Liga’s decision has left Real Madrid feeling uncomfortable,” the report stated. The club believes it will impact their preparation time for the crucial second leg against Arsenal. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will have 24 hours less rest than their Champions League opponents, who play their Premier League fixture on Saturday.
“We see it far from ideal that we will have less time to prepare for our crucial second leg against Arsenal,” Real Madrid’s frustration is palpable. Anything less than a victory against Alaves could see them lose more ground in the La Liga title race.
The report added that Alaves had told Real Madrid they were happy for the fixture to be brought forward, which prompted the defending champions to file a request with La Liga. However, La Liga justified their stance by stating that Los Blancos were too late on this matter.
Real Madrid must now focus on their match against Alaves and ensure a win to maintain their position in the La Liga title race. As Carlo Ancelotti said, “It’s a situation that we must deal with, and we cannot afford to take the match against Alaves lightly.”
With this development, Real Madrid’s schedule and preparation for the second leg against Arsenal will be put to the test. Will they manage to overcome the challenge and progress to the next round of the Champions League? Only time will tell.
In related news, Arsenal’s upcoming fixture against Brentford on Saturday is likely to fuel further anger and frustration within Real Madrid. The Gunners’ Premier League match will take place just a day before Real Madrid’s match against Alaves, giving the Spanish side less time to prepare for their crucial Champions League tie.
La Liga’s decision might have added pressure on Real Madrid, but Ancelotti’s side will be determined to make the most of the situation and progress to the next round of the Champions League.