Real are still missing the midfield presence that Toni Kroos had, and one of their star midfielders is now in danger of missing time. According to The Athletic, Eduardo Camavinga has sustained an ankle injury and could be out for a few weeks.

Tebas and Real Madrid have a long history of confrontation, most recently over Los Blancos’ request to postpone their La Liga opening fixture against Osasuna. The club argued the quick turnaround from the end of its FIFA Club World Cup campaign to the start of the 2025–26 season denied it the “minimum period of rest and preparation”.

Xabi Alonso's side returned to training on Monday, having finally got the chance for a break after a very long 2024-25 season