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Real Madrid worse than expected after a toxic calendar

  /  autty

After the euphoria of back to back wins over Roma and Espanyol, the contrast has arrived for Julen Lopetegui. For some time the Real Madrid coach has been looking ahead at the fixture list and has been concerned about the fortnight before the international break.

Unfortunately for him, his concern was proved to be justified as his worst fears have become a reality, if not worse than expected.

Lopetegui warned his players and staff that the fixture list wasn't one in their favour and it was one of the few times that this would be the case.

Tough rivals, little rest, many and long trips... a nightmare concoction to complicate life for the new Real Madrid coach.

48 hours before playing at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Julen saw five of his regulars in London for The Best awards, which was a nice moment but ruined training plans for Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois.

The cocktail became explosive, with a late kick-off in Seville meaning that the players returned in the early hours of Thursday morning with just one training session to prepare for the Madrid derby.

Injuries began to take their toll on Isco and Carvajal, then Marcelo.

After the derby, it was a flight to Moscow the very next day, with another game after less than 72 hours and a long flight in between.

On Saturday, early in the afternoon, there was another shock as Alaves stunned Real Madrid in the closing moments as fatigue took its toll.

Lopetegui feared the calendar and it has proven to justify all of his fears.