Unexpected! LaLiga changes the day and time of Barcelona-Real Sociedad

After the schedule for the round of 16 of the Champions League and the Europa League was announced, LaLiga decided to implement unexpected adjustments to the scheduling of matchday 26 which will take place next weekend. FC Barcelona, which was initially set to host Real Sociedad on Saturday, March 1 at 18:30, will have to postpone their match in Montjuïc by one more day, to Sunday, March 2 at 16:15.

The change is related to the fact that Barcelona will visit Benfica on Wednesday, March 5 and not on Tuesday, March 4, the day when the first Madrid derby of the Champions will be played. Previously, the culés must face Atlético de Madrid at home on Tuesday, the 25th, for the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals, while Real Sociedad will do the same against Real Madrid on Wednesday, the 26th at Anoeta. Although the donostiarras will arrive with one day less of rest in Catalonia, they have not expressed any complaints about it.

LaLiga affects the interests of Barça and Real Sociedad in Europe

And just like Barcelona, the Basques will also have European competition in the first week of March. Imanol Alguacil's team will host the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday, March 6, one day after the first clash between Benfica and Barcelona. In this sense, moving the match of matchday 26 affects the planning of both teams, as both will have one day less of rest.

In the case of Barcelona, they will arrive in Lisbon with only 72 hours of recovery, while Bruno Lage's team will have a whole week to prepare for the first duel against the azulgrana. Benfica will host Braga next Wednesday, the 26th for the quarterfinals of the Portuguese Cup and then will have the weekend off in their league. The change in LaLiga's calendar meant moving the match between Betis and Real Madrid to Saturday, March 1 at 18:30, the time originally assigned to Barcelona-Real Sociedad.

Matches of LaLiga EA Sports matchday 26 2024/25