Ahead of one of the most crucial matches of the season in the Champions League, Real Madrid has once again expressed its frustration over the LaLiga scheduling. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will be the only one among the eight remaining Champions League quarterfinalists to play their domestic league match on Sunday instead of Saturday like the rest of their European rivals.

While clubs like Bayern Munich, Arsenal, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Aston Villa already completed their league games on Saturday, Real Madrid will have to take the pitch a day later. Even Paris Saint-Germain, already crowned Ligue 1 champions, managed to postpone their weekend match to focus solely on the Champions League.

This situation has not been well received at the Madrid camp. It’s not the first time this season that the club has voiced concerns about scheduling, having previously complained about limited rest between a European tie against Atlético Madrid and a league match versus Villarreal.

Although Ancelotti avoided making harsh statements in his press conference, saying “72 hours of rest is enough to compete well,” there are figures within the club who don’t believe this is mere coincidence. Some executives interpret the calendar as a clear disadvantage, particularly when mental and physical recovery can play a decisive role in knockout ties.

A Hidden Advantage?

It’s also worth noting that Real Madrid has had more days to recover since the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal, which could help level the playing field. However, having to face a domestic fixture knowing their European rival is already resting and preparing for the return leg creates a perceived disadvantage—especially in the psychological aspect.

This latest episode in the ongoing tension between Real Madrid and domestic scheduling reignites the debate over fairness in match organization, particularly with so much at stake in Europe’s top competition.