Real Madrid faces a crisis before the new season

Real Madrid's qualification for the semi-finals of the 2025 Club World Cup has sparked widespread controversy regarding the start date of the domestic season, after La Liga scheduled the team's opening match against Osasuna for Tuesday, August 19, at the Santiago Bernabéu. According to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, this decision directly contradicts the position of the Spanish Footballers' Union (ASEF), which had previously stipulated that the Spanish team qualifying for the final stage of the global tournament's opening match be postponed until the second round of the league. This condition was agreed upon during calendar negotiations between the union and La Liga and would have applied to Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid had they qualified. The union insists that Real Madrid players must have two essential periods after their participation: 21 days of mandatory rest, as stipulated in the collective agreement, and at least three weeks of physical preparation, especially in light of the intense season the team will be competing in four competitions. Having officially qualified for the semi-finals, Real Madrid's players will not return to training until July 30, leaving them only 20 days to prepare for the match against Osasuna, which the union considers insufficient. If the team qualifies for the final, scheduled for July 13, preparations will not begin until August 4, meaning only 14 days of preparation. Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether La Liga will reschedule the opening matchday, despite La Liga president Javier Tebas previously stating his opposition to postponing the season, citing the potential damage to broadcast partners, especially since the Club World Cup was scheduled by FIFA without coordination with the domestic leagues.