La Liga 2025-26: Xabi Alonso supports players’ protest against Miami match

Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso on Saturday supported La Liga players who protested the Spanish top player’s decision to take a match to Miami.

La Liga announced last week that Barcelona’s away match against Villarreal will take place in the United States on December 20, the first European competition to be held abroad.

The Spanish Football Federation (AFE) said on Friday that there will be a «symbolic protest» at the start of every La Liga match this week.

Players from both Oviedo and Espanyol refused to move for the first 15 seconds of their match on Friday, although broadcasts of the match did not show this.

«We are against the match, we believe it distorts competition,» Madrid coach Alonso said at a news conference.

«There has been no unanimity or consultation for it to be played on neutral ground. The protests are positive, and that sentiment is positive. We think this could happen if there was unanimity, but that is not the case.»

La Liga leaders Real Madrid face Getafe on Sunday and Alonso said striker Kylian Mbappe should be ready to play.

The French superstar has suffered from ankle problems in the past two weeks and missed France’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland on Monday. “Everyone who went with his national team, except Dean (Huijsen), has returned in good condition,” said Alonso.

Published on October 18, 2025