As Barcelona builds towards a transitional Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, a fight with La Liga will complicate their preparations.
First, they have to face Real Valladolid at the back of a late-night league game just three days before they face off in Europe, and all of this has left manager Hansi Flick and the players furious.
The conflict became a public dispute after La Liga transferred the league match from May 4 to May 3, at 9 PM local time, to facilitate their UCL second leg on May 6.
While La Liga added an extra day of rest by moving the game earlier, the late kick-off means that players would finish the game around midnight and have no time for recovery before traveling to Milan the next day after the late game.
Barcelona protested immediately after La Liga announced the conflict, saying that this represents an unfair disadvantage arriving at one of their most important games in 6 years.
Desperate to avoid the late kick-off, Flick publicly labelled the timing ‘unacceptable’ and alluded to his displeasure at the inconvenience stemming from La Liga’s poor organization and prior links.
The club formally requested an earlier kick-off, but according to COPE, La Liga has denied their request, noting obligations to broadcasting contracts, as well as the need for fairness for all other teams.
This decision has reignited tensions between Barça and the league, with the club feeling repeatedly disadvantaged by fixture arrangements.
Similar sentiments were raised last season, when all complaints emerged in advance of important European fixtures, and questions were raised as to whether La Liga cares more about commercial gain than competitive fairness.
The Champions League semifinal is Barça’s opportunity to reach the final after many years, but the club now has a difficult battle ahead of it, not simply against Inter, but fatigue.
As the season comes to a climax, Barcelona must focus on what it can do to overcome the situation, while navigating both on- and off-pitch challenges, to keep the idea of a return to Europe alive.
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