Real Madrid Declares Refusal to Play Matches With Less Than 72 Hours' Rest

Coach Carlo Ancelotti criticizes LaLiga scheduling after a grueling week of matches and vows to prioritize player health moving forward.

Real Madrid played Villarreal on Saturday, just 66 hours after a 120-minute Champions League match against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti announced that the team will no longer play matches scheduled with less than 72 hours of rest, citing FIFA's recommendations for player recovery.
LaLiga denied Real Madrid's requests to reschedule the Villarreal match to allow for the recommended rest period, prompting criticism from the club and the Spanish footballers' union (AFE).
Kylian Mbappé scored both goals in Real Madrid's 2-1 victory over Villarreal, but players, including Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, were visibly exhausted after the match.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas defended the league's scheduling decisions, highlighting a recent accommodation for Real Madrid's upcoming matches, which the club reportedly requested to modify.