The Barcelona vs. Osasuna match, initially set for this past weekend, was postponed following the sudden and tragic passing of Barcelona’s first-team doctor, Carles Minarro.
Out of respect for Minarro, Barcelona requested the delay, and both La Liga and Osasuna agreed to reschedule the fixture.
Now, Spanish football authorities are grappling with the challenge of finding a suitable new date for the match.
While earlier reports suggested a potential rescheduling in May, recent updates from Sergio Fernandez indicate that La Liga is weighing its options carefully.
One proposed date under consideration is Thursday, March 27. However, Barcelona are against this option, as it would coincide with the international break, leaving them without key South American players like Ronald Araujo and Raphinha, who will be away on national team duty.
Barcelona have proposed an alternative date of May 21, slotting the match between La Liga rounds 37 and 38.
However, Osasuna and several other La Liga clubs have rejected this proposal. Their primary concern is that it would disrupt the league’s competitive balance, as Barcelona and Osasuna would have two matches remaining after round 37, while the rest of the teams would only have one.
This imbalance could have significant consequences, especially if Osasuna are in contention for European qualification or battling relegation at that stage.
Reports suggest that both La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation are inclined to support Osasuna’s position. As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how this situation will unfold in the coming days.
Five players to observe Ramadan fast in Barcelona – Benfica clash
Barcelona are gearing up to face SL Benfica today in what promises to be an electrifying clash between two teams capable of outplaying each other.
The Catalans enter the match with a 1-0 advantage and the backing of their home crowd. Additionally, coach Hansi Flick has few injury concerns, leaving him with a nearly full-strength squad at his disposal.
A recent report from MARCA highlights that at least five players from both teams could be observing the Ramadan fast during the game, though not all may feature in the starting lineups.
For Barcelona, Lamine Yamal and Ansu Fati are among those fasting, with Yamal expected to start while Fati may not play a role in this match. On Benfica’s side, Orkun Kokcu, Kerem Akturkoglu, and Zeki Amdouni are also observing the fast.
The match kicks off at 18:45 local time, but sunset is at 18:52, meaning players fasting will need to break their fast during the game.
To accommodate this, snacks and quick-absorbing fluids will be provided on the touchline for players to refuel as soon as the sun sets.
At halftime, they will return to the dressing room for a more substantial snack to regain energy after 11 hours of fasting.
This practice is not uncommon in football, as European leagues often pause briefly to allow players observing Ramadan to break their fast mid-game.
The Barcelona-Benfica match is expected to follow suit, with particular attention on Yamal and whether he can overcome the physical challenge of fasting to make an impact against Benfica’s defense.
