FC Barcelona has asked UEFA to move the second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie from Tuesday, March 17th, to Wednesday, March 18th. The first leg would be played on March 10 away from home. According to ESPN Deportes, such requests are rare, but the club is trying to ensure that its presidential elections on March 15th don’t collide with the matches.
The Sevilla fixture on election day is still set for 4:15 p.m., though La Liga had flagged it in case European commitments force a change.
As it stands, Barcelona would have an extremely tight turnaround of playing a big match amid elections on the 15th, and immediately going to an all-important European knockout game just two days later.
The Champions League draw adds another layer of tension; Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United are shaping up as the likely opponents after the play-offs. PSG edged Monaco 3-2 in a thrilling away victory, while Newcastle laid siege to Qarabag with a 6-1 win. Both would be formidable tests for the Catalans. Being seeded gives Barcelona the comfort of playing the second leg at the Camp Nou, but Hansi Flick’s side knows there’s little room for error. Preparation has already started, and the first leg away will be a true measure of the team’s readiness.
The Champions League final in Budapest on May 30th is the ultimate goal, where Barcelona hopes to once again capture Europe’s biggest trophy. Reports from inside the club say the players are aware of what’s at stake, both on the pitch and for the club’s hierarchy.
Joan Laporta remains the favorite to win the presidency, but several candidates are making waves as they polish their pitches to be the next leaders of the club.
