Real coach Alonso backs protest over plans for Barca-Villarreal match in US

VIDEO SHOWS: REAL MADRID PLAYERS TRAINING AHEAD OF THEIR LEAGUE MATCH AGAINST GETAFE, REMARKS BY COACH XABI ALONSO SHOWS: RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 18, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all) 1. REAL MADRID PLAYERS ON THE PITCH 2. VARIOUS OF PLAYERS WARMING UP 3. MIDFIELDER EDUARDO CAMAVINGA TALKING TO COACH XABI ALONSO 4. FORWARD KYLIAN MBAPPE AND DEFENDER EDER MILITAO KICKING THE BALL 5. ALONSO ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE 6. VARIOUS OF ALONSO DURING PRESS CONFERENCE 7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH XABI ALONSO SAYING:  “My opinion is the same as when you asked me two months ago. We are against the match because it distorts the competition. There has been no unanimity or consultation for it to be played on neutral ground. The protests are positive because many clubs share this sentiment. The decisions that need to be made to prevent this from happening are up to other people, but our opinion remains the same.” 8. PLAYERS WARMING UP 9. WIDE OF PITCH 10. MIDFIELDER CAMAVINGA, DEFENDER FERLAND MENDY AND FORWARD VINICIUS JUNIOR WALKING 11. (FROM RIGHT TO LEFT) ALVARO CARRERAS, CAMAVINGA, FERLAN MENDY, MILITAO AND MBAPPE DURING TRAINING 12. FORWARD ENDRICK ON THE PITCH 13. TRAINING IN PROGRESS 14. MIDFIELDERS BRAHIM DIAZ AND FEDERICO VALVERDE DURING TRAINING 15. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH XABI ALONSO SAYING:  “Right now, that's not on my mind, nor has it happened (Endrick and Gonzalo's departure from the team). They are both ready to play. It's a position where the competition is very good, both for them and for what we have, and right now it's not on my mind.” 16. TRAINING DRILL 17. CAMAVINGA AND MIDFIELDER AURELIEN TCHOUAMENI DURING RONDO DRILL 18. VARIOUS OF TCHOUAMENI DURING DRILL 19. RONDO DRILL IN PROGRESS 20. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) REAL MADRID COACH XABI ALONSO SAYING:  “For me, when one block has passed I think about the next one and I think it's the most complicated one, and this one, even though with few less games because we have a free week, we want to continue to take steps forward in both La Liga and the Champions League. In both competitions, we want to be consistent and perform well. The next stop is Getafe, and we're not looking any further than that; we are aware of what we have ahead of us of course but what we have talked about is tomorrow´s game against Getafe. They're a demanding opponent, it is an away game. We're being quite consistent and reliable for now, but we can't be complacent." 21.MILITAO DURING DRILL 22.TRAINING DRILL 23. FORWARD RODRYGO GOES DURING TRAINING 24. XABI ON THE PITCH GIVING INSTRUCTIONS 25. MBAPPE PUTTING BIB ON 26. WIDE OF PITCH DURING TRAINING STORY: Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso backed on Saturday (October 18) a scheduled protest against a Barcelona-Villarreal Miami league game. LaLiga players will stage symbolic protests at the start of most matches this weekend over the league's decision to stage a game in the U.S. in December, the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) has said. Oviedo and Espanyol players stood still in the first 15 seconds of their LaLiga clash on Friday (October 17) in the first protest, demanding better transparency and dialogue from authorities. Players of Barcelona and Villarreal, whose teams are scheduled to play in Miami on December 20, have been kept out of the initiative "to avoid the protest action being interpreted as a possible measure against any club," the players' union said. Asked about the LaLiga match in Miami, Alonso once again criticised the decision to play a competitive league game abroad and said he backed the protests. LaLiga leaders Real Madrid will be without Ceballos, Huijsen, Rüdiger, Trent, and Carvajal for their away clash against Getafe, but defender Ferland Mendy is match fit after recovering from a right leg injury sustained during the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona in April. (Production: Leonardo Benassato, Silvio Castellanos)

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