The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has officially rescheduled the La Liga match between Barcelona and Osasuna for March 27. The game was originally set to take place on March 8 at the Olympic Stadium but was abruptly postponed shortly before kickoff due to the sudden passing of Barcelona’s first-team doctor, Carles Miñarro.
Both clubs sought to challenge the new date set by the federation, arguing that it would negatively impact their teams. However, a judicial decision on Thursday dismissed their appeals, stating that the game must be played at the earliest possible opportunity. The ruling means that both teams will now have to adjust their schedules accordingly.
Barcelona faces player shortages
Barcelona, currently sharing the top position in La Liga with Real Madrid, expressed concerns over the timing of the rescheduled match. The club highlighted the potential absence of several key players due to international commitments. Among those expected to be unavailable are Raphinha and Ronald Araújo, who will be on duty for Brazil and Uruguay, respectively, in South American World Cup qualifiers on March 26.
Additionally, Gerard Martín, Fermín López, and Pablo Torre have been called up to Spain’s U21 squad, which faces Germany on the same day, while Héctor Fort is set to feature for Spain’s U19 team in a match against Latvia. Barcelona had hoped for an alternative date to avoid losing these important squad members but will now have to contend with their absence.
Osasuna’s fixture congestion addressed
Osasuna, though not as heavily impacted by international call-ups, faced another scheduling concern. The team was initially set to play Athletic Club just one day after the rescheduled Barcelona match, leading to worries over player fatigue and limited preparation time. To mitigate this issue, La Liga has moved their clash with Athletic Club to March 31, ensuring Osasuna has sufficient time to recover between games.
With the revised calendar, Barcelona is now bracing for a demanding run of fixtures. Following their match against Osasuna, they will play Girona on Sunday, before traveling to Madrid for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal against Atlético. The challenging period concludes with a home fixture against Real Betis on Saturday, adding to the team’s already intense schedule.
