The Spanish giants claim six players will be unavailable for the rearranged game with Osasuna
15:28, 20 Mar 2025Updated 15:32, 20 Mar 2025
Ronald Araujo will not be available for Barcelona
Ronald Araujo will not be available for Barcelona(Image: Getty Images)
Barcelona claim they will have up to six players missing for their rearranged La Liga game with Osasuna - with the fixture taking place during the international break.
The match will take place on March 27 after a governing body rejected the Catalan and Pamplona clubs' appeals.
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The game was initially set for March 8 but was suspended after Barcelona’s first-team doctor, Carles Minarro, died in the hours before kick off at Montjuic.
Both clubs launched an official appeal to the RFEF and La Liga to change the date to May 21, between the penultimate and final rounds of La Liga.
Barca appealed on the grounds that at least six of their players - including South American stars Raphinha and Ronald Araujo - will not have time to rest after international duty.
Araujo is set to play for Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier against Bolivia on June 25, and Raphinha is set to feature for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier against Argentina on March 26.
However, despite efforts from both Barcelona and Osasuna to find an alternative date, the disciplinary judge of the RFEF has upheld the decision to play the match on Thursday, March 27.
These last two match days are played simultaneously to ensure fair competition in the title race.
The clubs cited a precedent set during the 2016/17 season where Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid was postponed and then played between the final two rounds.
However, the RFEF ruled against the request, pointing to its regulations, which state that international call-ups are not grounds for postponing a match.
This move will also cause the Athletic Bilbao vs Osasuna match, scheduled for Friday, March 28, to be played on Sunday, March 30.
The change of dates and schedule has not pleased any of the teams involved with Bilbao set to face Rangers in the Europa League.
The situation is particularly precarious for Barca who sit top of La Liga with 60 points, the same as Real Madrid. Although the Catalans have a game in hand.
The death of Minarro ricked the Barca changing room. Before their Champions League clash with Benfica, head coach Hansi Flick took the chance to say a few words about "a very sad loss".
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He said: "Carles was a great person, but also a great doctor. The combination was incredible for the club and for the team. He was a very important part of our success.
"We will miss him, but I am sure he will be helping us from up there. Now we want to win for him.
"It's a very difficult situation, but we want to do the right thing. The team is highly focused and getting over the situation. The best way to do that is by winning."