FC Barcelona Seeks Postponement of Upcoming Copa Catalunya Semifinal

BARCELONA, Spain — Just 48 hours before the Copa Catalunya semifinal between Espanyol and FC Barcelona, the Catalan club has requested a postponement of the match. FC Barcelona reached out to the Federació Catalana de Futbol (FCF) and Espanyol to discuss potential schedule changes.

However, the FCF responded unfavorably regarding the postponement, stating the match will proceed as scheduled. Consequently, FC Barcelona will field a team composed mainly of youth players and some less frequently used members from their reserve squad.

FC Barcelona’s plea comes as their first team faces scheduling conflicts due to international duties. Coach Hansi Flick finds his player pool significantly depleted. Additionally, the Barcelona Atlético, the reserve team, is currently in a precarious position in the Primera RFEF standings, adding to the club’s reluctance to compete in the semifinal.

“Given the circumstances, we weighed our options seriously, including not showing up for the match,” a club spokesperson said. “Ultimately, we decided to field a mix of youth and reserve players.”

The other semifinal match will feature Girona FC and Andorra, scheduled for early April. This adds to the emphasis on FC Barcelona’s decision to send a less experienced squad, as the club has historically been impacted by the demands placed on the first team during such tournaments.

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona’s Juvenil ‘A’ squad, managed by Juliano Belleti, has recently experienced a busy schedule following their successful run in the Copa del Rey, further complicating the scenario.

While Espanyol has already initiated ticket sales for the event, FC Barcelona’s inquiry regarding postponement indicates the club’s concerns about player readiness and squad depth. Nevertheless, the FCF’s clear stance means the match will proceed, compelling Barcelona to utilize their available youth and reserve players.

In their response, Espanyol is expected to draw heavily from their own reserve team, although they may include a few members from the first team as well.