Real Madrid is once again facing a tight scheduling disadvantage ahead of a crucial UEFA Champions League match. Despite LaLiga following the minimum rest period requirements, Carlo Ancelotti's squad will have one less day of recovery compared to Arsenal before their decisive quarterfinal second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

A Scheduling Disadvantage for Real Madrid

📌 Real Madrid vs. Alavés – Sunday, April 13, at 16:15 CET.
📌 Arsenal vs. Brentford – Saturday, April 12.

This means Arsenal will have one extra day of rest before their Champions League showdown on April 16 in Madrid.

The scheduling has sparked frustration within the Madrid camp, especially after Ancelotti previously voiced concerns about player fatigue in the final stretch of the season.

Ancelotti Warned About Player Fatigue

During a recent press conference, Carlo Ancelotti emphasized that proper recovery is crucial at this stage of the competition. The Italian coach warned that if rest periods aren’t properly managed, some players might not be in optimal condition for key matches.

However, with LaLiga’s scheduling decision, Real Madrid has limited flexibility to rotate its squad and manage player fatigue, potentially forcing Ancelotti to adjust his lineup strategically to avoid exhaustion before facing Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

A More Favorable Schedule for Barcelona

While Real Madrid faces a tight schedule, their biggest rivals, FC Barcelona, enjoy a more balanced calendar:

📌 Barcelona vs. Leganés – Saturday, April 12, at 21:00 CET.

This means Barcelona will have the same amount of rest as Arsenal before their Champions League quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund at Camp Nou.