VILA-REAL, Spain: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Saturday his team will not play another football game after fewer than 72 hours of rest.
Los Blancos beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the Champions League on penalties and then earned a 2-1 win at Villarreal on Saturday, with the game kicking off at 1630 GMT.
“I think today is the last time we will play a game before 72 hours (of rest),” Ancelotti told reporters.
“We will never play another game (without) 72 hours of rest.
“We asked La Liga twice to change the time of the game and they did not do anything, this is the last time.”
World football governing body FIFA recommends at least 72 hours between matches in order to protect the health of the players.
French striker Kylian Mbappe struck twice for Madrid against Villarreal to take them top of La Liga ahead of Barcelona’s game at Atletico on Sunday.
“I am very proud of this team,” continued Ancelotti.
“It was a potential banana skin, above all for what has happened, the (few) hours of rest, and the strength of the opponent.”
Ancelotti has regularly complained about the packed football calendar, with Madrid one of the clubs who will also be involved at the expanded Club World Cup this summer in the United States.
“Everyone saw the game against Atletico, 120 minutes, a very intense match, it’s hard to play after two days... but we have to respect the club badge and fight until the end, and we did that today and we were able to win,” Mbappe told Real Madrid TV.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said the scheduling of the game was disrespectful to Madrid.
“We don’t want to look for excuses, I’m happy to say we did not lose or draw because of the tiredness, but it’s not normal playing (at this time) today,” said Courtois.
“I know La Liga don’t like to put (the three biggest teams) on the same day, but sometimes it’s what you have to do... it was a lack of respect to the team and our players, because we could have left here with someone injured.
“Tomorrow is Atletico against Barca and that’s not a problem, it could be a ‘Super Sunday’ with Madrid playing first.”
Real Madrid will never play with under 72 hours rest again: Ancelotti
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Real Madrid will never play with under 72 hours rest again: Ancelotti
- “I think today is the last time we will play a game before 72 hours (of rest),” Ancelotti told reporters
- “We will never play another game (without) 72 hours of rest”
Palace to face Bosnians Zrinjski in Conference League play-offs
- Palace missed out on a top-eight finish in the league phase
- Their opponents finished the league phase in 23rd place with a record of two victories
PARIS: Crystal Palace will face Bosnian side Zrinjski for a spot in the UEFA Conference League last 16 after the sides were drawn together on Friday.
Palace missed out on a top-eight finish in the league phase, which would have guaranteed them direct progression to the round of 16, but were on the seeded half of the draw for the knock-out round playoffs.
As a result, the Eagles will play the second leg at their Selhurst Park home.
Their opponents finished the league phase in 23rd place with a record of two victories, one draw and three defeats.
Should Oliver Glasner’s FA Cup winners progress, they will face either Bundesliga outfit Mainz or Cyprus’ AEK Larnaca in the next round in March.
Two-time Conference League runners-up Fiorentina will face Jagiellonia of Poland, while Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar drew Noah of Armenia.
Lech Poznan will take on Finland’s KuPS Kuopio and Swiss side Lausanne meet Czechs Sigma Olomouc in some of the other choice play-off fixtures.
The 1st legs take place on Feb. 19 and the 2nd will be played on Feb. 26.
Friday’s knock-out round play-off draw in full:
Zrinjski (BIH) v Crystal Palace (ENG)
KuPS Kuopio (FIN) v Lech Poznan (POL)
Shkendija (MKD) v Samsunspor (TUR)
Sigma Olomouc (CZE) v Lausanne (SUI)
Noah (ARM) v AZ Alkmaar (NED)
Jagiellonia (POL) v Fiorentina (ITA)
Drita (KOS) v Celje (SVN)
Omonoia (CYP) v Rijeka (CRO)
