Storm Delays Women's El Clásico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid to Kick Off Two Hours Later
FC Barcelona's women's team postponed Sunday's Clásico against Real Madrid at Camp Nou by two hours, to 19:00, after warnings of extreme rain and flood risk in Catalonia. The Liga F match went ahead as scheduled once the weather alert had passed.
Storm forces a later kickoff
Due to a forecast of extremely heavy rain and flood risk in Catalonia, including Barcelona, FC Barcelona suspended all activities at its facilities between 20:00 on Saturday, October 3, and 14:00 on Sunday, October 4, the club said in an official statement. Because the women's first team was due to host Real Madrid at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday at 17:00 for Matchday 6 of Liga F, Barcelona asked the league and competition authorities to push the kickoff back two hours, to 19:00.
According to the club, the delay was meant to ensure the stadium was fully operational and safe, and to make it easier for fans to travel to and enter the venue. La Vanguardia reported that the new time was confirmed by Liga F on Saturday evening, giving supporters advance notice to plan their trip; the outlet also noted that more than 40,000 tickets had already been sold for the game. Although the weather alert was due to end three hours before the original kickoff, La Vanguardia reported that a suspension remained possible if Catalonia's regional government (the Generalitat) extended the alert beyond 14:00 Sunday. Barcelona reminded attendees that only small, folding umbrellas would be allowed inside the stadium, while long, rigid ones were banned under security rules.
The club said a final decision on the schedule would be made Sunday morning depending on how the situation and official guidance evolved. DAZN, which broadcasts the match, confirmed the game would go ahead Sunday at 19:00 local time at Camp Nou.
Barcelona without Vicky López
Coach Pere Romeu named a 20-player squad for the match. Forward Vicky López was left out; according to Mundo Deportivo, she had not fully recovered from injury, failed to complete Friday's training session and worked in the gym instead on Saturday, meaning she will also miss the upcoming Spain national team call-up. Goalkeepers Cata Coll, Gemma Font and McCamey were all included, while the defense features Sydney, Paredes, Marta Torrejón, Carla Julià, Brugts, Aïcha, Martina and Van Asten, the last of whom could start after recovering fully from injury and featuring in the Champions League match against Roma. Midfield options were more limited, with Patri Guijarro, Aitana, Clara Serrajordi, Rosalía and Pina called up, and the attack led by Kerolin, Graham Hansen, Pajor and young forward Mayssa, who scored in the last league game against Logroño United but, being under 16, was ineligible to play the Champions League tie against Roma.
