This Wednesday, LaLiga requested the Spanish federation to postpone the Valencia-Real Madrid match scheduled for this Saturday in Mestalla at 9:00 p.m. after the impact of the human tragedy caused by the damage that has devastated the province. In addition, it has requested the suspension of four other First and Second Division matches this weekend in the affected area: Villarreal-Rayo (Saturday at 6:30 p.m.), Castellón-Ferrol, Eldense-Huesca (both on Sunday, at 6:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., respectively) and Levante-Málaga (Monday, 8:30 p.m.). According to employers’ sources, it is now Competition that must approve these postponements.
Valencia had complained to LaLiga about this measure and Madrid showed no problems. If the suspension is completed on Thursday, as is foreseeable, the question will be where the match is placed in a calendar condensed to the maximum, with Madrid immersed in six competitions. Between now and Christmas, Carlo Ancelotti’s team would only have one week off, the one between the match against Getafe (November 30-December 1) and in Girona (December 7-8), although it is planned in between the second round of the Cup, which Valencia would play if they overcome the tie against Parla Escuelas (a match that was supposed to be played this Wednesday and has also been postponed). And upon returning from the Christmas holidays, the team that begins its participation in the Cup is the white team, which could have all of January busy between the League, the Super Cup, the last two days of the first phase of the Champions League and the Champions League tournament. ko if you advance rounds.
Madrid has published a statement of condolences for the misfortune, the first team observed a minute of silence before starting training, as did the Valencia squad, and several players showed their support online for those affected. The Valencia coach, Rubén Baraja, has also sent a message of pain: “I want to send my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the people who died due to this terrible catastrophe in the province of Valencia. My strongest hug also goes to all of you who are suffering from the floods and to those who are working to help.”
Of this week’s Copa del Rey qualifiers, seven matches have been postponed: Parla Escuela-Valencia, Pontevedra-Levante, Xerez-Ceuta and Chiclana-Osasuna this Wednesday, and Ejea-Hércules, Manises-Getafe and Jove Spanish-Real Sociedad on Thursday. Almost all have already been relocated: Chiclana-Osasuna takes place on Tuesday, November 5 (7:00 p.m.); Parla-Valencia will be played on Wednesday the 6th, as will Xerez-Ceuta (both at 7:00 p.m.) and Ejea-Hércules (8:00 p.m.); and Pontevedra-Levante is moved to Thursday the 7th (8:00 p.m.). It is still unknown when Manises-Getafe and Jove Español-Real Sociedad will take place. In basketball, the Valencia Basket-Lietkabelis this Wednesday in the Eurocup has also been suspended.
In Chiclana-Osasuna, with the red warning activated by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) four hours before the scheduled time for the match (7:00 p.m.), it was the last inspection of the field of play by the referee, Hernández Maeso, which confirmed the suspension. The ball barely bounced and rolled. In the rest of the cup matches, a minute of silence was observed.
On the other hand, League F has also requested the postponement of Valencia-Deportivo A Coruña this Saturday at 12:00. The Generalitat Valenciana has announced that “Sports competitions will not be held” during the three official days of mourning, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.