Real Madrid is currently staring down the barrel of a season-defining stretch. Honestly, if you've been following the 2025-26 campaign, you know the vibes at the Bernabéu have been a bit of a rollercoaster. One week, Kylian Mbappé is clinical; the next, there's talk of a "crisis" and emergency plans to sign Erling Haaland. But the noise doesn't change the cold, hard reality of the la liga madrid schedule.
As of January 17, 2026, the margin for error has basically vanished.
Barcelona is sitting at the top of the table with 49 points. Madrid is chasing with 45. That four-point gap feels like a canyon when you look at how Xabi Alonso’s side has to balance the domestic league with a brutal Champions League and Copa del Rey slate. It’s a lot. If they slip now, the league title is basically gone by March.
The January and February Gauntlet
The second half of the season is officially here. It started today, January 17, with a home game against Levante. People think these "easy" home games are a given, but Madrid is currently dealing with a massive injury list. We're talking seven key players out, including Rüdiger and Militão. That makes the defensive rotation look pretty thin for a team trying to hunt down a relentless Barça.
January doesn't get any easier from here. On January 20, the Champions League returns to the Bernabéu with a visit from Monaco. Then, things get tricky.
Madrid heads to the Estadio de la Cerámica to face Villarreal on January 24. Villarreal is currently third in the league. They aren't just "participating" this year; they’re actually good. Taking three points away from home against them while also prepping for a trip to Lisbon to face Benfica on January 28 is a logistical nightmare.
Real Madrid La Liga Fixtures (January – February 2026)
The schedule is asymmetrical this year, meaning the order of games in the second half doesn't mirror the first. You’ve got to keep an eye on these specific dates:
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- January 24: Villarreal vs. Real Madrid (Away)
- February 1: Real Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano (Home)
- February 7: Valencia vs. Real Madrid (Away)
- February 14: Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad (Home)
- February 21: Osasuna vs. Real Madrid (Away)
- February 28: Real Madrid vs. Getafe (Home)
Notice a pattern? It's the "Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday" grind. February is historically where title charges go to die because of the physical toll. Playing at the Mestalla against Valencia on February 7 is always a hostile environment. Then, you host a Real Sociedad team that loves to play spoiler on Valentine's Day. No romance there for Alonso’s squad.
The Massive Dates in March and April
If Madrid survives the February slog, they hit the "Moving Month." March is when the la liga madrid schedule gets truly heavy.
The big one is March 21. The Madrid Derby.
Atlético Madrid comes to the Bernabéu. Atleti already knocked Real out of the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals earlier this month in Saudi Arabia, so there’s a massive revenge narrative here. Plus, Diego Simeone would love nothing more than to officially end Real’s title hopes in their own backyard.
After that, we head into April. The fixtures look like this:
- April 5: Mallorca vs. Real Madrid (Away)
- April 11: Real Madrid vs. Girona (Home)
- April 19: Real Betis vs. Real Madrid (Away)
- April 21: Real Madrid vs. Alavés (Home)
The Alavés game is a midweek fixture. These are the "trap" games. You’re coming off a tough trip to Sevilla or a Champions League quarter-final, and suddenly you’re playing on a Tuesday night against a team fighting relegation. This is where rotation becomes a survival skill rather than a tactical choice.
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El Clásico and the Final Sprint
Everything leads to May. If you’re a fan, mark May 10 on your calendar in red ink.
The Clásico at the Spotify Camp Nou.
Matchday 35. This is likely where the trophy will be handed out. Madrid won the first league Clásico 2-1 back in October, but they just lost the Super Cup final to Barça 3-2 a few days ago. The momentum has shifted toward Catalonia. If Madrid goes into May 10 trailing by more than three points, they’ll need a miracle.
The season finishes with:
- May 12: Real Madrid vs. Real Oviedo (Midweek)
- May 17: Sevilla vs. Real Madrid (Away)
- May 24: Real Madrid vs. Athletic Club (Home)
Ending the season against Athletic Club at home is a tough draw. Athletic is fighting for Champions League spots, and they don’t roll over.
How to Manage the Chaos
So, what should you actually do with this information? If you're planning a trip to Madrid or just trying to keep your sanity while following the title race, here is the move.
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First, ignore the "confirmed" times for games more than four weeks out. La Liga is notorious for shifting kickoff times for TV just 15 days before the match. If the schedule says "Saturday," keep Sunday free just in case.
Second, watch the yellow card counts. Madrid’s depth is already tested by injuries. One suspension to a guy like Bellingham or Valverde during the February stretch could cause a collapse against a team like Celta Vigo on March 7.
Finally, keep an eye on the Champions League knockout draws. If Madrid finishes in the Top 8 of the UCL group stage (which they are projected to do after the Benfica game), they skip the playoff round in February. That would be a massive advantage, giving them two weeks of "rest" while Barcelona might have to play extra games.
The la liga madrid schedule is a beast, but that’s the price of being the biggest club in the world. Stick to the home games against Getafe or Elche if you want a relaxed atmosphere, but if you want the drama, March 21 and May 10 are the only dates that matter.
Keep your travel plans flexible and your heart rate monitor handy. This race is going to the final weekend.
Check the official La Liga app or the Real Madrid club website every Thursday afternoon. That is usually when the "definite" TV slots for the next two weeks are finalized. If you are buying tickets, only use official secondary markets or the club's portal to avoid the surge in scams that always happens before the Derby and the Clásico. Stay updated on the injury report for Rüdiger and Alaba, as their return dates will dictate whether Madrid can actually keep a clean sheet in these upcoming away games.