Carlo Ancelotti says Real Madrid will refuse to play if they have another La Liga fixture scheduled with less than 72 hours rest beforehand. Madrid beat Villarreal 2-1 on Saturday, but the game kicked off just under 67 hours after the conclusion of Wednesday’s Champions League last-16 victory over Atletico Madrid,

Real Madrid managed a come-from-behind win against Villarreal in their latest La Liga clash on March 15. Kylian Mbappe grabbed a brace (17', 23') after Juan Foy

The Villarreal match, a 2-1 win secured by a Kylian Mbappé brace, took a visible toll on the players, with Ancelotti noting their exhaustion in the second half. Despite the fatigue, Ancelotti praised his team’s “character and commitment”, highlighting the squad’s depth and resilience.