Barcelona’s preparations for their historic overseas La Liga clash have taken an unexpected twist as fierce rivals Real Madrid continue their mission to derail the plan.
The Catalan giants are set for a busy end to the year, with domestic and European fixtures piling up under Hansi Flick.
After recent victories restored some momentum, attention has shifted to off-field matters, specifically, Barcelona’s scheduled La Liga showdown with Villarreal in Miami.
The fixture, pencilled in for 20 December, has already attracted worldwide attention as it would mark the first-ever Spanish league game played outside of Spain.
Barcelona see it as a golden opportunity to expand their global fanbase, particularly in the United States, where support for the Blaugrana continues to grow.
Yet the move has not been met with universal approval.
Real Madrid and several other La Liga clubs have voiced strong opposition, claiming that holding a domestic fixture overseas would “distort the competition.”
According to Cadena SER, Real Madrid have now taken drastic steps by writing to CONCACAF, the governing body overseeing football in North and Central America, urging them to block the Villarreal vs Barcelona match from being played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
While UEFA has already approved the match, it still requires final authorisation from CONCACAF since it would be held within their jurisdiction.
Real Madrid previously contacted Spain’s Higher Sports Council (CSD) to express their disapproval, but with little success so far.
Reports suggest that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is determined to exhaust all possible avenues to prevent the match from leaving Spanish soil.
Barcelona, however, remain unfazed by the escalating dispute.
Club president Joan Laporta has insisted the fixture will go ahead as planned, saying: “We’re already used to this. The Miami issue is fully agreed upon with LaLiga and Villarreal.
“We see it as an opportunity to bring joy to the Barca fans in the United States and to promote Barca’s image in an interesting market.”
When asked about Real Madrid’s opposition, Laporta added: “They are free to do whatever they want.
“We’re following the plan, which is to play the match on December 20 in Miami.”
Despite Madrid’s resistance, Barcelona are pressing ahead, determined to make history, on and off the pitch.
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