Real Madrid and Barcelona face a packed schedule in the 2024/25 season.
With both sides competing in the newly formed UEFA Champions League in the coming months, there will be big demands on their respective teams on the back of a busy international summer.
Los Blancos kick off their European title defense at home to VfB Stuttgart with Barcelona heading to Ligue 1 side AS Monaco.
The action of the cup will be very important at the beginning of 2025 and the access to King's Cup tickets will be sought after by fans.
The extension of the Champions League means an increase of two games, with the six-game group stage replaced by eight games in the new league stage.
However, there is a major schedule gap between the sixth and seventh games in the first phase, with a large gap from December 10-11 and January 21-22.
That offers some continental respite for both Carlo Ancelotti and Hansi Flick, but Barcelona and Real Madrid will be busy in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercopa, in the first week of January.
The Round of 32 in the former is scheduled for January 4-5 with the Spanish Supercopa in Saudi Arabia on January 8-12.
That will likely mean a rotated squad in both Copa del Rey games to prioritize the trip to the Middle East, but the chance of overloading continues to be a concern.
Ancelotti has already expressed his annoyance at more games being added to a bloated roster for his squad with Real Madrid later confirming that they will be competing in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States.
Despite the accumulation of “unwanted” games, Ancelotti has built a team capable of competing in many competitions, with Kylian Mbappe now leading their attack, and Barcelona has also strengthened, despite their financial problems.
The pace of the La Liga title will also play a key role in the UEFA Champions League path for both clubs if they reach the knockout stage in 2025.
Ancelotti has fielded weakened teams in the final weeks of the 2023/24 domestic season, with the title locked or confirmed, as he shifted priority to winning another European title.
Flick expects to keep pace and challenge Real Madrid in the title race, alongside an improved Atletico Madrid, but the added strength from the Copa del Rey and Spanish Supercopa could have a major impact on the trophies. “larger” offers at the end. of season
