According to a report from AS, it has come to light that Barcelona’s postponed clash against Osasuna has now been set for May 21.
It must be noted that the match had to be rescheduled following the unfortunate passing of Carles Minarro, Barcelona’s first-team doctor. Both clubs involved have agreed that this date is the most suitable for the fixture to take place.
However, scheduling the match on this date has raised concerns for La Liga, as it falls between matchdays 37 and 38.
By this stage of the season, Barcelona could still be in contention for the league title, and the league authorities were not initially in favour of holding a postponed fixture so late in the campaign.
Barcelona ‘s argument
La Liga had a five-day window to determine a new date for the match, but once that period expired, Barcelona and Osasuna firmly rejected the initial proposal to play the game on March 27, right after the international break.
Barcelona vs Osasuna will be played on May 21. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
The Catalan club presented a strong case against this scheduling, highlighting that key players Raphinha and Ronald Araujo would be unavailable.
Brazil face Argentina on March 26, while Uruguay take on Bolivia on March 25, making it impossible for the two players to recover in time to participate in a crucial league fixture just two days later.
Hence the aforementioned date
Given the circumstances, May 21 appears to be the only realistic option unless La Liga decides to wait and see how Barcelona progress in the Champions League.
The semifinals of Europe’s elite club competition are set to take place on April 29-30 and May 6-7. If Barcelona advance to the latter stages, the league might have to reassess the situation once again.
For now, the rescheduled fixture is pencilled in for May 21, ensuring both teams have clarity on when they will face off.
However, with multiple competitions still in play, any further developments could lead to another revision in the schedule.