Barcelona's rescheduled match against Osasuna has been set for March 27, amid the international break, which means key players could miss the crucial La Liga clash.
The original fixture was scheduled for March 8 but was canceled just minutes before kickoff when Barcelona's team doctor, Minarro Garcia, tragically passed away. The devastating news led the team captains to request the match be called off.
According to reports from SER Catalunya, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has decided to hold the match on March 27, a timing that creates complications for Barcelona. While Spanish national team players should be available following their Nations League quarter-final against the Netherlands on March 23, South American stars face a more challenging schedule.
Key players like Raphinha and Ronald Araujo will likely be unavailable for the rescheduled fixture. Raphinha is set to represent Brazil against Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match on March 25, just two days before the Osasuna game. Similarly, Araujo will be with Uruguay for their qualifier against Bolivia on the same day.
Both clubs reportedly expressed preference for the match to be played between matchdays 37 and 38 at the end of the season, stating this "minimises conflicts with the call-ups of players to national teams." However, the Spanish federation has cited the Eighth Provision of the Regulatory Rules and Competition Bases, which requires rearranged matches to be scheduled on a date as close as possible to the original fixture.
This scheduling decision creates a significant disadvantage for Barcelona, who will be without some of their South American stars for what could be an important match in their La Liga campaign.
