Real Madrid exhausted

Real Madrid face fitness problems ahead of the season.

Real Madrid have just gone through the toughest 2024/25 season in history with 68 official matches and 3 friendlies, stretching from the European Super Cup in August 2024 to the FIFA Club World Cup in July 2025.

The players were given just 40 days off, with only 24 days of actual football, before returning to training for the new season. To reward their relentless dedication, the club paid out generous bonuses, totalling €280,000 each to the players at the Club World Cup, despite the team losing in the semi-finals.

But that bonus is unlikely to make up for the physical and mental exhaustion. Real Madrid kick off the 2024/25 season with a victory over Atalanta in the European Super Cup on August 14, 2024, opening a journey to compete in 7 tournaments: European Super Cup, La Liga, Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Alonso needs a smart rotation strategy to maintain Real Madrid's strength.

In total, the Whites played 68 official matches and three friendlies during their tour of the United States, which ended in defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals. AS commented that the schedule was physically and mentally taxing, pushing players like Federico Valverde, Vinícius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé to the limit.

The tight fixture schedule, with an average of 5.3 games per day, has left Real Madrid's squad worried. Real Madrid's stars face the risk of burnout. The team will return to the Valdebebas training centre on August 4 to prepare for the new season, with a short pre-season of just 15 days, before the La Liga opener against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabéu on August 19.

According to Marca , this short break is not enough for a full recovery, posing a big challenge for coach Xabi Alonso in maintaining the team's form. The 2025/26 season schedule continues to be a difficult problem for Real Madrid, with La Liga, the Champions League, the King's Cup and international tournaments such as the Intercontinental Cup.

Real Madrid have used artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor player health, reducing the risk of muscle injuries by 25% last season, but this may not be enough if the fixture list is not adjusted. Real Madrid will need to rotate their squad more effectively under Xabi Alonso.