Why Will Real Madrid Go a Month Without Playing at the Santiago Bernabéu?
Real Madrid will not return to the Santiago Bernabéu until November 21. A midseason break hides a reason that will temporarily change the stadium’s plans.
Real Madrid will not play at the Santiago Bernabéu again until November 21, nearly a month after their last home game, played against Leipzig on Wednesday, October 21, in the Champions League. Although the team’s schedule will remain packed with fixtures, fans will have to wait to see them back at their home stadium.
Before returning to Madrid, the team will face Barcelona in El Clásico, visit Racing Santander on November 1, travel to Athens to take on AEK on November 4, and face Valencia on November 7. However, this stretch of away fixtures is not the only reason behind such a lengthy absence.
The NFL Will Take Over the Bernabéu During the Soccer Season
The event changing the stadium’s plans is the arrival of the NFL in Madrid. On Sunday, November 8, the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons will play an American football game at the Santiago Bernabéu, which will open its doors for an international sporting event unlike Real Madrid’s usual home fixtures.
The playing surface will be removed after the game to make way for new turf. American football requires specific field markings and places different physical demands on the surface, potentially causing enough wear and tear to make a replacement necessary before Real Madrid returns home.
Why Replace the Turf If It Is in Good Condition?
American football requires the field to be adapted to its specific needs and puts the playing surface under different types of stress. As a result, replacing the turf is part of the preparations for soccer’s return.
The operation will also put the Bernabéu’s infrastructure to the test. Its retractable-pitch system allows the playing surface to be removed and stored in an underground facility under controlled conditions. This technology makes it easier to host major events, although it does not eliminate the need for specialized work after a game such as the NFL matchup.
The International Break Sets the Date for Real Madrid’s Return
The schedule provides a window to complete the necessary work. After the NFL game, the November international break will begin, allowing crews to install and prepare the new turf without having to accommodate another Real Madrid fixture immediately afterward.
Real Madrid will return to the Bernabéu on November 21, against Celta. Until then, the team will have to fulfill its away fixtures while the stadium prepares to resume its usual soccer schedule.
The Bernabéu will continue to host a major sporting spectacle, but Real Madrid will have to wait before reuniting with its fans at home.
