A Destination Marked in Red

When UEFA drew the Champions League group stage calendar, one destination stood out in Valdebebas as the biggest concern: Almaty, Kazakhstan. It wasn’t just another trip, but an eight-hour charter flight — and up to 24 hours for fans with layovers — that demanded careful planning around logistics, rest, and time-zone adjustment.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. Barely 24 hours after the painful 5-2 defeat at the Metropolitano, Xabi Alonso’s men had to board a plane to a setting as distant as it is unfamiliar.

Climate, Altitude, and a Disrupted Routine

Even though temperatures will hover around 15°C, the dry cold and the city’s altitude, at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, require a different kind of preparation. This is not a usual Champions League stop, forcing Real Madrid to adapt to an environment far from their comfort zone.

The match will be played at the Ortalyq Stadion, a modest 23,000-seat venue, at 6:45 p.m. Spanish time (9:45 p.m. in Almaty). That unusual kickoff adds an extra challenge to the team’s training and nutrition schedules.

Xabi Alonso Leaves Nothing Behind

The initial plan was to rest some starters to avoid unnecessary wear, but the derby loss and the absences of Militao and Carvajal changed the script. Xabi Alonso has taken every available player, knowing that each piece could be crucial to getting back on track.

The squad set up camp at the Intercontinental Almaty and will complete their final training session at the local stadium. Madrid’s captain summed it up bluntly: “We have to turn that frustration around, swallow the pain, and travel to Almaty with strength to take the three points.”