Tries to stop Madrid footballers getting practice (9)
I believe the answer is:
rehearsal
'practice' is the definition.
(rehearsal is a kind of practice)
'tries to stop madrid footballers' is the wordplay.
'tries' becomes 'hears' (as in trying or hearing in a trial).
'to stop' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters plug or stop a gap).
'madrid footballers' becomes 'real' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'hears' put within 'real' is 'REHEARSAL'.
'getting' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rehearsal that I've seen before include "Practice session in preparation for public performance" , "Drill" , "Practice in theatre etc" , "Dummy run" , "Play run-through" .)