Real Madrid News
Real Madrid’s La Liga opener against Real Sociedad set to be postponed
According to AS, Real Madrid are expected to become the first club affected by La Liga’s scheduling adjustments for players involved in the latter stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With France set to face Morocco in the quarter-finals, the Spanish capital club are now guaranteed to have at least one player reach the semi-finals, triggering the league’s postponement policy.
Opening match to be rescheduled
La Liga is scheduled to begin on the weekend of August 14-16, but clubs with at least one player participating in the World Cup semi-finals will not be required to play in the opening round.
That means Real Madrid’s opening fixture against Real Sociedad is expected to be postponed and rescheduled for later in August.
Regardless of which nation progresses, Real Madrid will have representation in the last four of the tournament, with Brahim Diaz playing for Morocco and Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni and new signing Ibrahima Konate representing France.
Tebas explained the plan
La Liga president Javier Tebas recently outlined how the competition intends to manage the calendar.
According to Tebas, every player involved in the World Cup will receive the rest period guaranteed under the collective agreement with the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE), consisting of three weeks of holiday followed by three weeks of pre-season preparation.
To accommodate those requirements, La Liga plans to split the opening round, with some fixtures taking place during the opening weekend and others being moved to a midweek date later in August.
“We’ve done a study and it’s very easy for us to divide the first matchday into six games around August 14th and another three or four on a Wednesday midweek in August. So, the first matchday will be divided,” Tebas said.
“That postponed first matchday could be played between the second and third matchdays of the championship.”
More clubs could be affected
Real Madrid are expected to be the first club impacted, but they are unlikely to be the only one.
Other fixtures that could also be postponed include Barcelona vs Athletic Club, Atletico Madrid vs Malaga and Celta Vigo vs Osasuna, depending on which players remain involved in the World Cup as the tournament progresses.
La Liga is expected to confirm the official fixture schedule once the semi-finalists are known.
AFE preferred a different solution
The Spanish Footballers’ Association had previously expressed concerns about the congested calendar.
Rather than splitting the opening round across different dates, the union argued that delaying the start of the entire league by one week would have been a fairer solution, allowing every club to begin the season simultaneously.
Nevertheless, the league has decided to proceed with this formula and as things stand, Real Madrid’s opening fixture will be postponed.
Real Madrid News
Carlos Espi reacts after scoring match-winning goal in Elche 2-3 Real Madrid: ‘Starting like this is a dream’
Carlos Espi is becoming Real Madrid’s unlikely late-game specialist.
The 21-year-old once again came off the bench to rescue Jose Mourinho’s side, this time scoring the 91st-minute winner in a dramatic 3-2 victory over Elche.
It was his second goal for the club, and both have arrived at crucial moments.
Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the match, Espi could barely contain his excitement.
“I’m so happy—the happiest man in the world. I try to help the team any way I can, and every time I step onto the field, I give it my all and come away feeling great.
“Starting like this has been a dream. This isn’t over yet; we’re going to keep going because we have Sunday’s match coming up.
Carlos Espi winning goal in Elche vs Real Madrid game. Mbappe assist. pic.twitter.com/STJBV3ikQL
— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) September 16, 2026
“This is a team effort. All of us who take the field make the most of our opportunities and give it our all,” he began.
Espi keeps making his minutes count
There is a growing pattern to Espi’s involvement. Even though he has yet to start a match for the first team, that has not stopped him from making an impact.
His first goal arrived against Espanyol in Real Madrid’s opening game, when another late strike helped secure the result.
Against Elche, he was required again after Real Madrid surrendered a two-goal lead and suddenly found themselves in serious trouble.
Espi eventually appeared at the back post in the 91st minute and finished the move to give Mourinho’s team all three points.
The youngster shared the credit with his teammates, but he also had special praise for the player who supplied his decisive moment.
That assist came from Kylian Mbappe, whose presence has made Espi’s route into the starting XI particularly difficult.
“It’s unbelievable—it’s crazy to watch him train and play. In this case, he set me up for the goal, and I’m very happy for him, too.”
First Madrid derby already has Espi excited
The timing of Espi’s latest contribution could hardly be more interesting, as Real Madrid now face Atletico Madrid on Sunday, giving the forward an opportunity to experience his first Madrid derby.
“I’m really looking forward to it—I’m so excited. It’s my first derby here, and we’re going to go for it.”
For Mourinho, Espi is a useful option when matches become chaotic. He may not yet be a regular starter, but his two appearances on the scoresheet have carried considerably more weight than the minutes he has played.
