Real Madrid kicks off its marathon calendar with five different competitions News

MADRID, 1 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid returned to the competition this Friday after being inactive for the World Cup in Qatar with their LaLiga Santander match against Real Valladolid, a duel that served to say goodbye to a great 2022 and as the starting box for 2023 with a particular calendar in the coming months, loaded with matches, at a marathon pace and with five competitions at stake.

The summary of the short-term future of Carlo Ancelotti's men can be summed up in that they will barely have a rest until February 26, risking their 'life' in five different competitions -LaLiga Santander, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup, Club World Cup and Champions-. Thus, the challenge for the white team seems extraordinary, with the duels against Atlético, Liverpool, Athletic or Valencia as great 'ports'.

Ancelotti has already avoided the ghosts of his first spell on the white bench, despite losing the first game of 2022, like seven years ago. In 2015, they lost at the start of the year and broke a 22-win streak, deflating and losing a four-point lead over Barcelona, ultimately champion by two.

Their status as League and Champions League champions make the white team also a candidate for the Spanish Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. The first tournament will be held from January 11 to 15. Real Madrid will be Valencia's rival in the semifinals, so a victory would allow them to play in the final and add another match to their long list of commitments.

Before, after that first game after the break for the World Cup and last of 2022, but already into 2023, the whites will face their cup debut of the round of 32 on January 3 (9:00 p.m.) against Cacereño. Just four days before, on the 7th, of matchday 16 of LaLiga Santander, when he will visit the Estadio de La Cerámica.

Later, and still in January, he will have another six commitments if he does well in the aforementioned Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia and the Copa del Rey. The hypothetical round of 16 of the K.O tournament would be on January 18, while another new day of the First Division looms on the 22nd, against Athletic in San Mamés. Same structure for the following week, with a cup match during the week and closing the month with a domestic competition match at home against Real Sociedad.

If the first month of 2023 already seemed saturated, February also incorporates the round of 16 of the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti's team could play up to eight games in four different competitions in about 25 days, if they don't stop their run in the Mundialito and the Copa del Rey prematurely. In addition, only two of these will be played at home, against Valencia and Atlético, in a derby that will come just four or five days after the first leg of the round of 16 against Liverpool on February 21.

Before, Real Madrid will receive the 'ché' team, visit Mallorca and Osasuna, play the Mundialito -from 8 to 12 if they reach the final- and face the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, already in a double game, if he is still alive in the cup tournament. Nor will the beginning of March leave time for relaxation, with the possible postponed game of Elche for the Mundialito final, the visit to Villamarín and the return of the Champions League against the 'Reds', just before 'El Clásico' in the Camp Nou.

Valladolid-Real Madrid. The league. Friday December 30.

Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. Tuesday January 3.

Villarreal-Real Madrid. The league. Saturday 7.

Real Madrid-Valencia. Spain Supercup. Wednesday 11.

Final of the Super Cup (if he wins the semifinals). Sunday 15.

Eighth of Copa del Rey. Wednesday 18.

Athletic-Real Madrid. LaLiga. Domingo 22.

Copa del Rey quarters. Wednesday 25.

Real Madrid-Real Sociedad. The league. Sunday 29.

Real Madrid-Valencia. The league. Thursday February 2.

Majorca-Real Madrid. The league. Sunday 5.

World Cup semifinals. Wednesday 8.