In the offices at Santiago Bernabéu, the latest move affecting LaLiga's schedule hasn't been well received. FC Barcelona might not visit Estadio de la Cerámica to face Villarreal.
Instead, the match would be moved to Miami, in the United States, as part of Javier Tebas's strategy to expand the championship.
The change isn't a simple geographic adjustment. For Real Madrid, it means a competitive alteration that clearly favors its main rival. Villarreal, especially at its stadium, is one of the most challenging opponents of the season. Avoiding that trip is, from the Madrid perspective, a relief for Barça.
A trip that disappears from the map
Visiting Villarreal is synonymous with difficulty. The field, the fans, and the playing style of the yellow team usually put any title contender in trouble.
Madrid knows this well: winning there always requires extra effort and maximum concentration. That's why Barça being spared that challenge on hostile ground causes outrage in Chamartín.
The decision to take the match to Miami completely changes the context. Instead of a hostile atmosphere and a demanding trip, Barça would play in a neutral setting. With the presence of a large number of Barça fans living in the United States, especially in Florida, Leo Messi's territory.
Obvious competitive advantage
In sporting terms, Barça would go from facing a clash in one of the most difficult stadiums in LaLiga to playing a match with majority support in the stands. For the Madrid coaching staff, this notably eases one of the most complicated commitments on the schedule.
At Real Madrid, they believe that a title is decided by details like this. Reducing the demands of a key match can translate into decisive points at the end of the season. That's why the decision has set off alarms at the club and has caused deep discontent with the management of the competition.
Tebas and his American plan
LaLiga has been trying for some time to take official matches to the United States. Although the idea has always caused debate, this time the controversy is amplified by the direct impact on the title race. Javier Tebas argues that the initiative benefits all clubs in terms of exposure and business.
However, at Real Madrid, they believe that the sporting impact isn't being measured with the same standard for everyone. The possibility of Barça avoiding such a demanding trip as Villarreal isn't, for them, a simple logistical whim: it's a gift in the middle of the title fight.