Real Madrid made a request to get this weekend’s game against Alaves moved to allow them more rest ahead of their Champions League clash against Arsenal.
The reigning European champions are slated to play on Sunday, three days before they will attempt to stage another miraculous European comeback at the Bernabeu.
According to Cadena SER, Real made their plea after La Liga had publicly released the schedule on March 20 bit it fell on deaf ears.
‘As you well know, this match is strategically located between the two matches we will play against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter finals, on Tuesday, April 8 in London and Wednesday, April 16 in Madrid,’ read an email sent to La Liga, obtained by the Spanish radio station.
‘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.
Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.
‘We are convinced that our request is entirely reasonable and we trust that it can be met.’
Real made contact with Alaves before submitting their request to bring the game forward by 24 hours and although their opponents were happy to accommodate them, Carlo Ancelotti’s side has been ordered to play the game as scheduled tomorrow.
Los Merengues could well have done with an extra 24 hours to prepare given they are 3-0 down in the tie following a disastrous first leg at the Emirates Stadium and have several injury concerns ahead of the return fixture.
Arsenal, meanwhile, host Brenftord this afternoon still on a high from one of the most impressive results in their European history.
‘Great, it’s been an unbelievable energy, it was a very special night,’ said Mikel Arteta when asked how his squad as reacted to a famous win.
‘That’s over, and now the full focus is on Brentford, because it’s a game that is going to require the best of us.’
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
He added: Just one [day off]. I think they were very happy with that. Sometimes after winning you want to spend the next day in and around the team because you want to share that feeling.
‘But we had a day off because it was the best way to recover and prepare for the game against Brentford.
‘It’s not about bringing them back. It’s now maintaining that energy and that momentum and using it towards Brentford and the very difficult game that we’re going to face against a team that, when you look at what they’ve done, it’s just incredible. It’s remarkable.
‘It’s a beautiful story and they have earned it in the way they work, in the way they organise, in the way they believe, in the way they play. So big credit to them, it’s going to be a really tough test for us.’