Real Madrid's Full Schedule: Clásico Dates & Preseason Drama

Well, it's been a whirlwind of a week for anyone following Real Madrid, and I mean that across the board. Just as we're gearing up for the new LaLiga season on the football pitch, the basketball folks have dropped the entire Liga Endesa calendar for 2025/26. It’s a lot to take in, but it’s the kind of chaos we live for, right? From massive Clásico dates to some very frank comments from coach Xabi Alonso, there’s plenty to unpack.

Key Highlights

• ✓ The Real Madrid basketball schedule for the 2025/26 Liga Endesa season has been released.
• ✓ The first El Clásico against Barça is set for January 3rd or 4th at home.
• ✓ Football coach Xabi Alonso says the team "won't look for excuses" despite a rushed preseason.
• ✓ New signing Franco Mastantuono, 18, could get minutes in the LaLiga opener against Osasuna.
• ✓ Alonso addressed the intense competition between new arrival Trent Alexander-Arnold and captain Dani Carvajal.

The Basketball Gauntlet: Your 2025/26 Liga Endesa Roadmap

Let's start with the hardcourt. The full schedule is out, and it feels like we can finally start mapping out the season ahead for the reigning champs. The action kicks off on October 4th or 5th, with Madrid hosting Dreamland Gran Canaria at the Movistar Arena. It's a solid start at home to get the ball rolling before the grind truly begins.

Of course, the first thing every fan does is circle the Clásico dates. The first showdown with Barça is slated for Jornada 14, taking place at home on January 3rd or 4th. The return leg in Barcelona will be a tense affair during Jornada 23, on March 21st or 22nd. The regular season will wrap up on the road against BAXI Manresa sometime between May 28th and 30th, which could be a crucial decider for playoff seeding. It’s a long road ahead, but knowing the path makes it all the more exciting.

The First Half Grind

• ✓ J. 1 (4-5 Oct): Real Madrid vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria
• ✓ J. 2 (11-12 Oct): Baskonia vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 3 (18-19 Oct): Real Madrid vs. San Pablo Burgos
• ✓ J. 4 (25-26 Oct): Real Madrid vs. BAXI Manresa
• ✓ J. 5 (1-2 Nov): Casademont Zaragoza vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 6 (8-9 Nov): Joventut Badalona vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 7 (15-16 Nov): Real Madrid vs. Surne Bilbao Basket
• ✓ J. 8 (22-23 Nov): Coviran Granada vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 9 (6-7 Dec): La Laguna Tenerife vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 10 (13-14 Dec): Real Madrid vs. Bàsquet Girona
• ✓ J. 11 (20-21 Dec): Hiopos Lleida vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 12 (27-28 Dec): Real Madrid vs. Unicaja
• ✓ J. 13 (29 Dec-2 Jan): UCAM Murcia vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 14 (3-4 Jan): Real Madrid vs. Barça
• ✓ J. 15 (10-11 Jan): MoraBanc Andorra vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 16 (17-18 Jan): Real Madrid vs. Valencia Basket
• ✓ J. 17 (24-25 Jan): Río Breogán vs. Real Madrid

The Home Stretch: Second Half

• ✓ J. 18 (31 Jan-1 Feb): Real Madrid vs. Casademont Zaragoza
• ✓ J. 19 (7-8 Feb): Real Madrid vs. Coviran Granada
• ✓ J. 20 (14-15 Feb): Unicaja vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 21 (7-8 Mar): Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 22 (14-15 Mar): Real Madrid vs. Hiopos Lleida
• ✓ J. 23 (21-22 Mar): Barça vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 24 (28-29 Mar): Bàsquet Girona vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 25 (4-5 Apr): Real Madrid vs. MoraBanc Andorra
• ✓ J. 26 (11-12 Apr): San Pablo Burgos vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 27 (18-19 Apr): Real Madrid vs. La Laguna Tenerife
• ✓ J. 28 (25-26 Apr): Valencia Basket vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 29 (2-3 May): Real Madrid vs. UCAM Murcia
• ✓ J. 30 (9-10 May): Real Madrid vs. Río Breogán
• ✓ J. 31 (12-15 May): Surne Bilbao Basket vs. Real Madrid
• ✓ J. 32 (16-17 May): Real Madrid vs. Joventut Badalona
• ✓ J. 33 (23-24 May): Real Madrid vs. Baskonia
• ✓ J. 34 (28-30 May): BAXI Manresa vs. Real Madrid

No Excuses: Alonso on Madrid's Hurried Preseason

Switching gears to football, things have been just as intense. Coach Xabi Alonso held a press conference and was pretty direct about the team's less-than-ideal preseason. The squad only started training on August 4th after their Club World Cup duties, giving them just 15 days to prepare for their LaLiga opener against Osasuna on Tuesday. That's an incredibly tight turnaround.

The club actually requested to have the Osasuna game postponed for more prep time, but that was rejected. A judge ruled that while players need 21 days of rest, there's no minimum requirement for physical preparation. Alonso acknowledged the difficulty, stating, "Of course, for the health of the players... we'd like to have had more preparation." But he was firm in his message: "It is what it is. It's only been two weeks. But we won't look for excuses. The team can compete tomorrow." That's the mentality you want to hear from the man in charge.

💡 What's Interesting: Alonso on his first talk with new signing Franco Mastantuono: "His personality surprised me. He was 17, but he was a man, he had a lot of self confidence. He felt no vertigo arriving at Real Madrid."

New Faces and Healthy Competition

Amid the preseason rush, there's a lot of excitement around the new signings. The one creating the most buzz is Franco Mastantuono. The Argentine youngster only joined the team last week after turning 18, but Alonso seems incredibly impressed. He praised the teenager's maturity and fearlessness, noting that he brings quality, energy, and that signature "Argentinian fighting spirit." Incredibly, Alonso even hinted, "He could get minutes tomorrow." Talk about a baptism by fire!

Another fascinating subplot is the battle brewing at right-back. With the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, there's now serious competition for captain Dani Carvajal, who is returning after missing a huge chunk of last season with a knee injury. Alonso framed this perfectly, saying, "There's really good competition there. I like having that in every position... It's really good for the squad, we have a lot of games." It's a classic managerial headache, but the kind you love to have, as it pushes everyone to be better.

Injuries and Off-Pitch Controversies

The tough start to the season is complicated further by a list of unavailable players. The team will be without some huge names for the opener. Jude Bellingham is still recovering from shoulder surgery, while Endrick, Eduardo Camavinga, and Ferland Mendy are also sidelined with injuries. To top it off, veteran defender Antonio Rüdiger is suspended. That's a significant portion of the core squad out of action, which will certainly test the team's depth from day one.

Beyond the pitch, the club is also making its voice heard. Alonso confirmed he fully supports Madrid's official protest against LaLiga's plan to play the Villarreal vs. Barcelona fixture in Miami this December. The club argues it gives an "undue sporting advantage" to the teams involved. Alonso put it plainly: "I agree with the club's statement. At the start of the season we all know the rules, and if the rules change, there should be unanimity among all the participants." It’s a reminder that at a club like Madrid, the battles are fought on and off the field.

Conclusion

So there you have it. It’s a massive info dump, but it paints a clear picture: there's no "off-season" when it comes to Real Madrid. The basketball team has a long, tough road mapped out with those massive Clásico dates looming large. Meanwhile, the football team is embracing a "no excuses" culture under Xabi Alonso, ready to face the new season despite a rushed start, a string of injuries, and some exciting new faces ready to make their mark. It’s going to be a fascinating year for both squads.