Real Madrid’s hopes of gaining a crucial day of rest ahead of their Champions League second-leg clash with Arsenal have been dashed, as LaLiga has rejected their appeal to move this weekend’s fixture against Deportivo Alaves forward by a day.

The Spanish giants had asked that the match, originally set for Sunday, April 13, be played on Saturday, April 12, to afford them more recovery and preparation time before facing the Gunners on Wednesday, April 16. The Champions League encounter is especially pivotal, as Los Blancos aim to overturn a 3-0 deficit suffered in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium.

According to Cadena SER, Real Madrid submitted a formal email to the LaLiga board, explaining:

“Moving the match against Deportivo Alavés to Saturday, April 12 would allow us more time to adequately prepare for both that match and the decisive match on Wednesday, April 16 at the Santiago Bernabeu.”

The club even secured a green light from Alaves, who were reportedly willing to accommodate the schedule change. However, LaLiga refused the request, maintaining that the original fixture date must stand.

In contrast, Arsenal will benefit from an earlier domestic fixture, hosting Brentford on Saturday afternoon, giving them an extra day of rest and preparation—a detail that has not gone unnoticed by Madrid supporters.

Opinion: LaLiga Missed an Opportunity to Support Its Own

While rules are rules, sometimes flexibility in the spirit of fair play and global competitiveness is warranted. Real Madrid are not just another club—they are Spain’s flag-bearers in the UEFA Champions League. And with a mountain to climb against a strong Arsenal side, every advantage, including a few extra hours of rest, matters.

It’s worth noting that Alaves had no issue with the proposed change, showing the type of sportsmanship that leagues should encourage. Yet, LaLiga chose to stand firm on a rigid schedule, potentially disadvantaging one of their own at the highest level of European competition.

From a broader perspective, leagues across Europe—especially the Premier League and Bundesliga—have often shown more tactical awareness in accommodating clubs representing them in European tournaments. Spain should do the same, especially when it involves a club with as much pedigree and potential as Real Madrid.

Could LaLiga’s inflexibility come back to haunt them if Madrid fail to progress? Time will tell. But what’s clear is that giving Spanish clubs the best fighting chance in Europe should be a shared priority—not a burden.

What do you think? Should LaLiga have approved Real Madrid’s request for the greater good of Spanish football? Or was it fair play to keep the schedule unchanged?