Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid superstar. © AFP / ANGELA WEISS

Royal visit: Real Madrid visits Innsbruck

A world-class club is coming to Innsbruck: On Tuesday, Real Madrid will play a friendly match at the Tivoli Stadium.

August 11, 2025

From: apa/det

Real Madrid is visiting Innsbruck. The football stars will play against Austrian Bundesliga side WSG Tirol at the Tivoli Stadium on Tuesday (19.00 p.m.), one of only two friendly matches in this unusual preseason. This offers the WSG players a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to test themselves against Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, David Alaba, and the rest. "They have to play against the league leaders now. It won't be easy," said Moritz Wels, referring to the current league high.

For the second time in a short period of time, the stadium in Innsbruck will be packed to capacity. Following the cup clash between Wacker Innsbruck and Rapid Wien (0-1) at the end of July, WSG Innsbruck's clash with the Spanish record champions now follows – ticket prices on the black market have reached dizzying heights.

David Alaba is coming to Innsbruck. © APA / EVA MANHART

"I'm curious to see what it'll be like when the Tivoli is sold out," said WSG captain Valentino Müller. "Maybe some people will be there just for us," he added with a grin. "It's going to be a really great game. Most people get to experience it once in their lives," said U21 team player Wels. "For me, of course, it's nice to play against Xabi Alonso as a coach," emphasized coach Philipp Semlic.

Real travels especially – Alaba could play

Real Madrid isn't in Austria for an extended training camp, but is traveling from Spain for the match against Watten and will then fly back with a special permit. The event was arranged by the Hamburg-based agency Onside Sports, which is also the event organizer and had already organized Al-Nassr's camp with Cristiano Ronaldo in Salzburg. The condensed preparation under new coach Alonso also has to do with the Club World Cup, which only ended for Real in the semifinals against Paris Saint-Germain. Due to the delayed vacation, the start of training was also postponed.

Real coach Xabi Alonso. © ANSA / RONALD WITTEK

Real Madrid's first league match against Osasuna is scheduled for August 19th at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. They played a behind-closed-doors friendly against second-division side Leganés on Friday, with Alaba reportedly playing in midfield rather than as a central defender, as he has recently done. On Tuesday, they face WSG. The club's own TV channel and even the public broadcaster RTVE are broadcasting the game in Spain.

It will be interesting to see which players will play for the "White Ballet," who finished second behind Barca last season. Alaba, now fit again, is likely to come off the bench in front of "his" Austrian fans. He has some personal connections to Innsbruck: He had his knee repaired there after tearing his cruciate ligament in December 2023, and he also completed his rehabilitation there with ski ace Marco Schwarz. Jude Bellingham, who underwent shoulder surgery in July, is not yet ready.