Barcelona Refuses to Play Rescheduled Osasuna Match, See Why
Barcelona is currently entangled in a scheduling dispute regarding their postponed fixture against Osasuna. While La Liga and the RFEF (Royal Spanish Football Federation) have suggested a new date for the match, the Catalan club is unwilling to proceed unless two of their key players, Raphinha and Ronald Araujo, are available. This stance adds another layer of complexity to an already congested fixture list, forcing the club, the league, and Osasuna to reassess their options.
March 27: A Controversial Proposal
The proposed date for the rescheduled match is March 27, which falls immediately after the international break. While this date might seem logical from a logistical standpoint, Barcelona is not entirely convinced. The primary concern is not just the scheduling itself but the impact it would have on their squad's fitness and availability.
If the match goes ahead on March 27, it would disrupt the team’s preparation for their La Liga fixture against Girona, scheduled for March 30 at 16:15. To accommodate recovery time, the match against Girona would need to be pushed back to 21:00. However, even with this adjustment, Barcelona would still have an incredibly demanding schedule, as they are set to face Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals on April 2.
Playing three crucial games in the span of six days would put immense physical strain on the squad, which is already dealing with injuries and fatigue from a grueling season. But even beyond this, Barcelona’s major concern lies in the availability of certain international players who might not return in time.
Barcelona Won’t Play Without Araujo and Raphinha
The biggest issue for Barcelona is the potential absence of two crucial players—Ronald Araujo and Raphinha. Both players are set to be on international duty just days before the proposed fixture, making their participation in the Osasuna match highly unlikely.
Raphinha is expected to feature in Brazil’s match against Argentina on March 26, just one day before the proposed date. Given the travel time, recovery, and potential fatigue, it is almost impossible for him to be fully fit for the Osasuna clash. Similarly, Araujo will be with the Uruguayan national team, which has a match scheduled for March 25. This gives him very little time to recover, let alone train with the team before a crucial league game.
Barcelona is adamant that they will not play the rescheduled match without these two key players. They believe that being forced to compete without them would put them at an unfair disadvantage, especially in a critical phase of the season where every point matters. The club is, therefore, pushing for an alternative date that ensures their squad remains intact and competitive.
May 21: Barcelona’s Preferred Date
In response to La Liga and the RFEF’s proposal, Barcelona has suggested playing the Osasuna match on May 21, which is just before the final matchday of La Liga. This alternative date would allow the team to have all their players available while avoiding unnecessary fixture congestion in March and April.
However, this proposal is not without opposition. Osasuna is reportedly unhappy with the idea of playing the match so late in the season. By May, the league standings could be highly competitive, and the match could have significant consequences for both teams. If Osasuna is fighting for a European qualification spot or battling relegation, playing such an important fixture right before the final matchday could prove to be a disadvantage for them.
Given Osasuna’s resistance, La Liga and the RFEF must carefully weigh their options. They need to find a date that is not only fair for Barcelona but also ensures that Osasuna is not negatively impacted.
Other Possible Dates Depend on Barcelona’s Copa del Rey Progress
While May 21 remains Barcelona’s preferred option, there are other potential dates on the table. If the Catalan club fails to advance to the Copa del Rey semifinals, new windows for the match would open up.
In this scenario, the postponed Osasuna fixture could be played on April 29, April 30, May 6, or May 7. These dates would have originally been used for the Copa del Rey semifinals, but if Barcelona does not reach that stage, they could be repurposed for the league match.
However, this solution is highly uncertain, as it entirely depends on how Barcelona performs in the Copa del Rey. If they progress to the semifinals, these dates will no longer be available, and the scheduling issue will remain unresolved.
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