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Mbappé leads Madrid at Villarreal, but explodes over timetable: ‘I'm dead!

Real Madrid secured a key win over Villarreal at La Cerámica (1-2), with Kylian Mbappé scoring both goals in a stellar performance. However, beyond the result, what was most talked about was the physical toll on the team after playing a 120-minute marathon against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League. Mbappé himself, exhausted at the end of the game, was quick to express his frustration: ‘I'm dead!

Two games in less than 72 hours: Madrid rebelling

The physical exhaustion of the Merengue team was evident from the start of the match. Just 66 hours after a high-intensity duel at the Metropolitano, Madrid had to face a Villarreal side that, as expected, tried to take advantage of Los Blancos' fatigue. Despite this, Mbappé pulled the strings with his umpteenth display, taking his tally to 31 goals in 44 games this season.

After the match, the cameras caught the visibly exhausted French striker on camera. ‘It was very difficult, to play two games like that, with so little rest, it's too much,’ he confessed. ‘Everyone saw what happened against Atlético, we played with a lot of emotion... and then, in two days, you have to go back out on the pitch. It's complicated.

The Madrid dressing room did not hide their discomfort and the club have already made their position clear: ‘We will not play again without at least 72 hours rest’. In fact, Madrid have announced that they will make a formal complaint to FIFA and the relevant institutions to guarantee a minimum rest period between matches.

An unstoppable Mbappé, but without rest

Beyond the controversy, the big news for Madrid remains Mbappé's impressive form. The Frenchman, who arrived at the club this summer as the big star, has proven to be living up to expectations. Against Villarreal, he scored a brace to help Ancelotti's side break a poor run of form at La Ceramica, where they had not won since 2017.

However, the player himself acknowledged that the effort took its toll. ‘The warm-up was very hard, but you have to respect the shield and fight until the end,’ said the striker.

Madrid want to set a precedent

The issue of rest between games has long been a topic of debate in elite football. While other leagues take more precautions with the fixture list, in Spain teams playing in several competitions often find themselves with tight fixtures that leave little room for recovery.

Real Madrid, who are not the only club affected by this situation, seem ready to set a precedent. Their message is clear: they are not willing to compromise the health of their players for poor calendar planning.

In the meantime, Mbappé and Co. will have to continue to prove their ability to perform at their best, even when conditions are less than ideal. With crucial matches on the horizon, Madrid are clear that they do not want to repeat a situation like the one experienced at Villarreal.