Real Madrid’s lone rapid preseason match sold out in 40 minutes as Xabi Alonso’s era officially begins
All 16,000 tickets for Real Madrid’s only quick preseason friendly were snapped up in just 40 minutes on June 5 for the fixture at Innsbruck’s Tivoli Stadion, home of WSG Tirol. The strong interest — amplified by the club’s recent Club World Cup run — has driven ticket resale prices up to €400, compared with original prices of €65 for stands and €250 for VIP.
Televisión Española will broadcast the match live on its main channel from 19:00, and Real Madrid TV will provide extensive build-up and post-match coverage, including interviews and press conferences.
Team news and preparation
– Real Madrid completed their final session at Valdebebas before traveling to Austria. The group did gym work, activation exercises, on-pitch physical series, progressions, passing, 10v10 games and a tactical phase. Drones have been used regularly in training to record sessions for tactical review.
– Eduardo Camavinga, Endrick, Jude Bellingham and Ferland Mendy remain in rehabilitation and will not travel to Innsbruck. Federico Valverde was a late withdrawal due to a right-leg muscular overload.
– Álvaro Carreras, the former Benfica full-back, will make his debut for the club that developed him and is among those particularly motivated for the occasion.
– Several academy players have trained with the first team and earned squad calls for the match: Thiago Pitarch (midfielder, b. 2007, Fuenlabrada), winger Daniel Yáñez, defender Diego Aguado, midfielder Roberto Martín and goalkeeper Fran González.
– The squad recently played a closed-door friendly against Leganés, winning 4-1.
Opposition and setting
WSG Tirol arrive as leaders of the Austrian Bundesliga, having beaten LASK 3-1 last Sunday. The Tivoli Stadion will host 16,000 fans for this event — a considerable increase over the club’s usual average home attendance of about 2,400 — marking a notable return to an Austrian preseason destination last used by Real Madrid in August 2019 (a 1-0 win at Red Bull Salzburg).
Notes, context and explanation
– The rapid sell-out and high reseller prices reflect both curiosity about Xabi Alonso’s first public match in charge of Real Madrid and the momentum from the club’s recent international success.
– The mixture of first-team stars, injured absences and promoted academy players suggests Alonso is balancing immediate competitive preparation with integrating youth into his project.
– The use of drones and video sessions indicates a strong focus on tactical analysis as Alonso prepares to stamp his style on the squad.
Short summary
Real Madrid’s only rapid preseason match at Innsbruck sold out in under an hour, driven by excitement for Xabi Alonso’s first public outing as head coach and recent club momentum. Several key players are sidelined through injury or rehab, while Carlos’s academy prospects and new signing Álvaro Carreras will feature. The match will be broadcast live on national television.
Hopeful angle
The fixture offers an energetic, visible start to Xabi Alonso’s tenure: a chance to see his tactical ideas, assess promising academy talent in a competitive environment, and build momentum ahead of the season. The large, engaged crowd and broad TV coverage give the new project an immediate platform to connect with supporters.
Suggestions for publication (editorial value-add)
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