La Liga Postponed Indefinitely Due to Coronavirus Until Government Clearance
Mar 23, 2020
Barcelona's Jordi Alba, right, celebrates with Barcelona's Lionel Messi before the goal he scored was disallowed after a VAR decision during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday, March 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
La Liga announced Monday the league will remain suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus pandemic and won't resume until given clearance by the Spanish government.
"The Monitoring Commission established by the current RFEF-La Liga Coordination Agreement AGREES the suspension of professional football competitions until the authorities of the Government of Spain and the General Administration of the State consider that they can be resumed without creating any health risk.
"Both the RFEF and La Liga wish to express our greatest public gratitude to all those who are dedicating their best efforts to provide essential services to the Spanish people and also share our condolences for all the deceased and a warm embrace from the world of football to the many families that are losing loved ones."
The league was originally suspended on March 12 for at least two matchdays, while Real Madrid went into self-isolation after it was revealed that a member of the club's basketball team tested positive for COVID-19. The football and basketball club share certain facilities.
La Liga joined several other leagues around Europe in postponing play, including Serie A, the Premier League, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga. UEFA also suspended the Champions League and Europa League.
Several footballers around Europe have tested positive for the coronavirus, including Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Timo Hubers (Hannover), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Manolo Gabbiadini (Sampdoria), Omar Colley (Sampdoria), Albin Ekdal (Sampdoria), Antonino La Gumina (Sampdoria), Morten Thorsby (Sampdoria), Jannes Horn (Hannover), Patrick Cutrone (Fiorentina) and German Pezzella (Fiorentina).
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis also tested positive for the coronavirus, among others within the sporting community.
One of the questions regarding the suspension of La Liga, along with when play would resume, was how the league would handle the rest of the season. Would it extend the calendar, condense the schedule or simply cancel matches?
Those answers will now remain in limbo until the Spanish government determines large gatherings can be held without risk of further transmitting the coronavirus.
For now, Barcelona (58 points) hold a two-point advantage over Real Madrid. Sevilla (47 points) and Real Sociedad (46 points) are currently in the remaining two Champions League positions, though Getafe are level with Real Sociedad on points and Atletico Madrid are just one point back.
Former Real Madrid President Lorenzo Sanz Dies at Age 76 from the Coronavirus
Mar 21, 2020
le président du Real de Madrid Lorenzo Sanz pose avec le trophée de la Ligue des Champions, le 23 mai 2000 à Versailles, lors d'une conférence de presse organisée par le club à la veille de son match en finale de la Ligue des Champions où ses joueurs affronteront le FC Valence au Stade de France à Saint-Denis. (Photo by Patrick HERTZOG / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP via Getty Images)
Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died Saturday at the age of 76 after contracting the coronavirus, according to the Associated Press (via USA Today).
He was being treated for the virus throughout the week and was in intensive care.
"Today, all of Madrid is in mourning following the passing of the president who dedicated a huge part of his life to his great passion: Real Madrid," the club said in a statement. "Given the current circumstances, Real Madrid will give him the recognition he deserves as soon as possible."
Sanz's son also confirmed the news on Twitter Saturday.
"My father has just died," he said, via a translation by Alex Kirkland of ESPN. "He didn't deserve this ending and in this way. One of the best, bravest, hardest-working people I've ever known leaves us. His family and Real Madrid were his passion. My mother and my siblings enjoyed all of his moments with pride. RIP."
Sanz served as president of Real Madrid from 1995 to 2000, helping the club win two European titles.
He is one of the latest victims of a pandemic that has killed over 11,000 people worldwide through Saturday, according to the World Health Organization. Spain has had 19,980 confirmed cases, third-most in the world behind only China and Italy.
Neymar Reportedly Willing to Force PSG Exit to Join Barcelona
Mar 21, 2020
PSG's Neymar reacts during the French League One soccer match between Paris-Saint-Germain and Bordeaux at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday Feb. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Paris Saint-Germain superstar forward Neymar is reportedly willing to "force a move away" from PSG in order to secure a reunion with Barcelona during the summer transfer window.
Joaquim Piera of Sport reported Saturday that Neymar's representatives have already made contact with Barca and there's "maximum tension expected" once negotiations begin.
The 28-year-old Brazilian and the Catalan club are also exploring the use of Article 17 in the FIFA transfer regulations, which states a player's contract is only protected for three years, per Piera. Barcelona expect that route would cost an estimated €18 million if PSG don't budge during talks.
Neymar started his professional career with Santos in his native Brazil before a high-profile transfer to Barca was completed in May 2013. He recorded 105 goals in 186 appearances across all competitions while teaming with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez to form the world's most dangerous attacking trio.
Similar transfer speculation popped up last year, and Barcelona CEO Oscar Grau confirmed in September the club did everything in its power to reacquire the dynamic attacking threat.
"We made a very big effort to get Neymar," Grautold reporters. "We did everything possible. We made two offers, one including players and one without them, but we got the feeling PSG never wanted to sell him. We are not going to lose control when it comes to players. We want the best team around, but we also want to be sustainable."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBTFLKO5fBg
Neymar has proceeded to put together another terrific season for PSG. He's tallied 13 goals and six assists in 15 Ligue 1 matches to go along with three goals and two assists in four Champions League appearances.
Paris Saint-Germain advanced to the UCL quarter-finals with a triumph over German side Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16, but the tournament is currently on hold because of thecoronavirus pandemic.
That success apparently hasn't been enough to satisfy Neymar, however, so expect the transfer rumours to take center stage once again this summer.
Ansu Fati's Father: 'I Know That Barcelona Fans Love Ansu Very Much'
Mar 20, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 07: Anssumane Fati of FC Barcelona in action during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on March 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Silvestre Szpylma/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Ansu Fati's father, Bori, has paid tribute to Barcelona's fans for the support they have shown his son in 2019-20.
The 17-year-old broke into the Blaugrana's senior side at the beginning of the campaign and has netted four La Liga goals this term and one in the UEFA Champions League:
Ansu Fati is now the youngest Barcelona player to score a league goal and the third youngest in La Liga history 😲
The Guinea-Bissau-born winger has also made his Spain under-21 debut during 2019-20.
As a graduate of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, he is the latest in a stellar production line of players that includes current team-mates Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique.
Bori Fati has now said how grateful he is to hear players of that calibre praising his son, per Radio Barcelona (h/t Marca):
"To hear how players like Messi, [Carles] Puyol, [Samuel] Eto'o or Pique talk about Ansu...we are very grateful. I know that Barcelona fans love Ansu very much. He loves them too. He knows it, although he is a child."
He added that Ansu is "training with his younger brother" during the coronavirus pandemic that has led to the suspension of La Liga.
Barca's last game in the Spanish top flight before the near Europe-wide shutdown was their 1-0 home win over Real Sociedad on March 7.
That victory put them back to the top of the table, where they remained when Real Madrid were surprisingly beaten by Real Betis:
The emergence of Fati has been a bright spark in a tricky season for Barca.
But the fact they remain front-runners for the La Liga title despite replacing manager Ernesto Valverde with Quique Setien in January is indicative of the enduring quality of Barca's squad.
They also remain in the running to win the UEFA Champions League. Their last-16 tie against Napoli is currently level at 1-1 with the second leg still to be played at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid's Luka Jovic Apologises for Self-Isolation Breach in Serbia
Mar 20, 2020
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 09: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Luka Jovic of Real Madrid scores his team's fourth goal during the Liga match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid CF at El Sadar Stadium on February 09, 2020 in Pamplona, Spain. (Photo by Alejandro/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has apologised for breaking self-isolation rules after returning to his native Serbia from Spain.
With the La Liga season suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, Jovic returned home last week.
He was expected to observe 28 days of self-isolation in Serbia after returning from Spain, the second-most-affected country in Europe (11,178 cases and 491 deaths as of Wednesday, per CNN).
Per Ben Spratt of Goal, Jovic was reportedly spotted outside his apartment in Belgrade, and he has now taken to Instagram to explain the situation via the stories feature:
"Since the situation in the world and in our country is very difficult, I have to come forward and give support to my people. First of all, I am very sorry that I am the main topic these days and that I am constantly being written about, not the heroes of this crisis, doctors and all the medical professionals.
"While in Spain, I [tested] negative for coronavirus and decided to come to Serbia to help and support our people and be close to my family, in agreement with the officials. When I landed in Serbia, I was once again tested and coronavirus negative.
"It is very unfortunate for me that some people did their job unprofessionally and did not give me the correct instructions for how to behave in self-isolation. In Spain, I was allowed to go to a pharmacy and a supermarket so that I could get the groceries I needed, which is not the case here.
"I apologise to all the people if I compromised them in some way and I hope that we can manage to get through all this together. Support Serbia and let's stick together."
Real's entire squad have been quarantined since March 12 after Trey Thompkins, one of the club's basketball players, tested positive for the coronavirus.
That was the prompt for La Liga to be suspended for two matchdays:
*La Liga has been suspended for at least the next two matchdays due to coronavirus outbreak in Spain. *Real Madrid go into quarantine after player from club’s basketball team tests positive - the squads share facilities https://t.co/EywM0zS2xc
The suspension of on-field action across Europe has left Real lying second in the Spanish top flight, two points behind leaders Barcelona, and trailing 2-1 in their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Manchester City.
The second leg of the tie against the Citizens was initially scheduled to take place on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium.
Jovic only joined Real in June from Eintracht Frankfurt. His debut season in the Spanish capital has been a difficult one as he has scored just two goals in 15 La Liga appearances.
Rivaldo Compares Antoine Griezmann, Philippe Coutinho Debut Barcelona Seasons
Mar 19, 2020
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 07: Antoine Griezmann of FC Barcelona reacts during the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on March 07, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Rivaldo believes Antoine Griezmann's debut season at the Camp Nou has shown similarities to that of Philippe Coutinho's.
Griezmann arrived at Barcelona in the summer of 2019 as one of the best forwards in the world, having shone for Atletico Madrid in La Liga and for France on the international stage.
However, his debut campaign hasn't been straightforward, with former manager Ernesto Valverde and current head coach Quique Setien struggling to find a regular position in the side for the Frenchman. Rivaldo, a former Barcelona star himself, believes Griezmann is having some similar problems to Coutinho, per Betfair (h/t Ben Hayward of the Evening Standard):
"[He's] a world champion, who is well-adapted to Spanish football after his time at Atletico Madrid and would be expected to make a bigger impact at Camp Nou. But Griezmann is still capable of making the difference, especially in Lionel Messi's absence, so we must wait and see if he can get adapt to Barca's system. Griezmann has the quality to succeed at the club.
"His first season is reminding me of Coutinho's. Both were playing great football when they arrived at the club but didn't manage to replicate it at Barcelona. I think he needs to dedicate himself a little bit more to truly produce his best football and become a decisive member of Quique Setien's team."
Coutinho joined Barcelona in the 2018 January transfer window for a club-record fee from Liverpool, but the Brazilian failed to replicate the form he showed on Merseyside, and he was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich this term.
Griezmann has netted 14 goals in 37 appearances this season for Barcelona, so it would be harsh to call him a flop. However, there's a sense the Blaugrana have yet to unlock his full potential at the Camp Nou.
Per La Liga, Griezmann has made it clear how much he looks up to Barcelona icon Lionel Messi:
However, it feels at times as though the two players are looking to occupy similar areas of the field, as they each are at their best when dropping into space off the front of the attack.
Football journalist Musa Okwonga has said he's unsure whether the signing will ultimately bear fruit:
I really fear this Griezmann signing is not going to work, ever. It reminds me of Thomas Lemar at Atleti - a fine part in the wrong machine.
At Barcelona, everything revolves around Messi, who continues to carry the side with his brilliance. That includes signings like Griezmann, who looks as though he will have to craft out a new role at the Camp Nou.
As of yet, it's unclear when Barcelona will be in action again, with the majority of major leagues across Europe suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Luka Jovic Apologises for Failing to Observe Serbia's Coronavirus Restrictions
Mar 19, 2020
PAMPLONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 09: Luka Jovic of Real Madrid CF looks on during the Liga match between CA Osasuna and Real Madrid CF at El Sadar Stadium on February 09, 2020 in Pamplona, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic has apologised after breaking rules put in place in Serbia to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Jovic wrote on social media (h/t Miguel Angel Lara at Marca) that he travelled back to his homeland with the club's permission after testing negative for the coronavirus and wasn't informed of the restrictions in place in Serbia:
"Having seen the situation throughout the world and in our country is very difficult, like it has been for some time, I have to speak out and send support to everyone.
"Firstly, I'm very sorry to be the main talking point these days and I'm sorry that I'm the one constantly being written about and not those key protagonists who are fighting this crisis, who are the doctors and all those working in health.
"In Madrid, my COVID-19 test was negative, so I decided to travel to Serbia, to help and support our people as well as be close to my family, with the club's permission.
"Upon arriving in Serbia, I was tested and it came out negative. I'm very sorry that some people haven't done their job professionally and haven't given me concrete instructions on how to behave in my isolation.
"In Spain, you're allowed to go out to the supermarket or the pharmacy, which doesn't happen here. I want to apologise to everyone if I've done any sort of damage or put anyone in danger."
Jovic has been criticised by the Serbian press for returning to the country despite appeals for citizens abroad to stay away and after being "spotted out and about" in Belgrade celebrating his girlfriend's birthday, according toAS.
Serbian authorities are reportedly investigating Jovic after an emergency law was been passed calling for "those returning from states battling the virus to self-isolate for up to 28 days," per AP Media (h/tSky Sports).
Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic has been critical of "known sportsmen" for flouting the rules and said "either they will respect the law, or they'll go to jail," per the report.
The Real Madrid football and basketball teams were placed in quarantine on March 12 after first-team basketball player Trey Thompkins tested positive for coronavirus.
Jovic joined Real Madrid from Eintracht Frankfurt on a six-year deal in June 2019 for a reported fee of €65 million plus add-ons.
However, the striker has struggled to make an impact at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring just twice in 24 appearances in all competitions for Zinedine Zidane's side in 2019-20.
Meet Francisco Trincao: The Portuguese Sensation Joining Barcelona This Summer
Mar 19, 2020
Sitting on the pitch, arms on his knees, almost in tears, Erling Haaland looked devastated. Having hit the woodwork three times, he found it hard to accept the result as he watched the Portuguese players celebrating their 3-1 win over Norway in their opening game of 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Francisco Trincao, on the other hand, was all smiles as he entered the dressing room after scoring twice in Vaasa, Finland. The Braga winger couldn't wait to check his mobile phone.
When he finally got his hands on it, he saw a message from one of his earliest mentors, Joao Aroso.
"Trincao stole the show that afternoon," Aroso tells Bleacher Report. "I congratulated him for his performance and then asked him, 'You know what I liked most about you today, don't you?' And he replied to me, 'Of course, mister. It was the moment I lost the ball and immediately fought to win it back.'
"And he was right. We had worked together at Braga's reserve team and after training sessions, I usually showed him videos of aspects of his game he could improve. And one of them was his defensive approach. I felt that when we were out of possession, he seemed to disconnect a bit. One morning, I told him, 'If you don't work harder, you won't play with me.' But that was it, he's a great lad and listened to me.
"He already had very clear ambition: He wanted to become one of the best footballers in the world."
That campaign for Portugal brought his dream a step closer.
Despite the absences of Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix, Milan's Rafael Leao and Manchester United's Diogo Dalot, Portugal's "Generation '99" became the first group of players to win both the Under-17 and Under-19 European trophies.
And from a relatively unknown member of that new crop of youngsters going into the Under-19 tournament in Finland, Trincao emerged as one of its standout players, finishing with five goals and three assists to his name. Suddenly, he had the whole country talking about his deadly left foot.
However, he had to wait to build on that momentum.
While Haaland enjoyed a meteoric rise that took him from Molde to Red Bull Salzburg and then to Borussia Dortmund, Trincao was inexplicably sidelined by Braga for most of the following season. Struggling to get much playing time, he saw his progress come to an abrupt halt.
For a moment, the fear was that the "Mahrez from Minho," as he was dubbed by Diario de Noticias newspaper, would not be able to fulfil his potential.
It may have taken a bit longer than expected, but when the chances he had been waiting for since July 2018 finally emerged, he grabbed them right away.
Such has been the impression that Trincao has made this season that within three months of getting regular first-team football, he convinced Barcelona to anticipate competition for his services and pay Braga a fee of €31 million in late January of this year, a record sale for the Portuguese club.
Barcelona let Braga hang on to Trincao for the rest of the season, but when he joins the Catalan club in July, he will have a buyout clause of €500 million.
His signing was immediately celebrated by Frenchman Antoine Griezmann, who had already come across Trincao in the virtual world. "Football Manager crack," Griezmann wrote as a comment on Barcelona's official post announcing Trincao's arrival.
Earlier this season, Griezmann had shared the starting XI of his Arsenal save on the popular football game, and along with a host of future stars was Trincao featuring on the right wing. Maybe Griezmann can even give Barcelona boss Quique Setien a tip or two on how best to use the 20-year-old when the time comes?
There are certainly plenty of weapons in Trincao's locker. As a recent Mais Futebol column pointed out, the youngster has everything you could want from a difference-making player: Pace, technique and boldness.
He just needs a coach who is not afraid to gamble on him and who can instil a level of consistency into his game so he performs to his best every match, and not just in flashes.
Despite being an elegant winger with an eye for goal and a killer pass, he struggled to earn the trust of Abel Ferreira, who was his Braga coach when he returned from the Under-19 Euros
However, Ferreira moved to PAOK in Greece last summer, and things have significantly changed for the better for Trincao this season, first with Ricardo Sa Pinto and later with Ruben Amorim.
Both played a key role in converting Trincao into Portugal's new golden boy during Braga's victorious run to Portuguese League Cup title, which saw them beat FC Porto and Sporting CP along the way.
BRAGA, PORTUGAL - FEBRUARY 26: Trincao of SC Braga shots on goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Sporting Club Braga and Rangers FC at Estadio Municipal de Braga on February 26, 2020 in Braga, Portugal. (Photo by Jose Ma
He has filled, to some extent, the talent void in the league left by Felix's departure to Atletico Madrid last summer.
But while Felix had to cope with the disproportionate hype that tends to surround Benfica graduates, Trincao has been able to thrive without such a glaringly bright spotlight.
The pressure will be ramped up, though, as soon as he gets to the Camp Nou.
"It is one thing to be a teenager who has come through Barcelona's youth ranks, but it's another to arrive as a big signing," Sa Pinto, who resigned as Braga head coach in December, tells B/R.
"The pressure will be on Trincao to deliver, but I'm sure he can shine for Barcelona and reach the high echelons of football.
"He's a very talented young player—one that had been barely used in the season before, but that we felt needed more minutes and so we started playing more regularly.
"He has got goals, assists, everything on him. We can only say this out loud now, though, because he was rescued from the reserve team. I'm particularly proud to have been part of this transition process."
Among other things, the former Portugal international believes Trincao has benefitted from developing his game in an environment where he faces almost no criticism from fans and media.
Braga's home average attendance is about 10,500 fans, not even close to filling their 30,000-plus capacity Pedreira stadium, considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
BRAGA, PORTUGAL - NOVEMBER 28: General view outside the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League group K match between Sporting Braga and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Estadio Municipal de Braga on November 28, 2019 in Braga, Portugal. (Photo by Octavio Passo
"At the Camp Nou, he will play in front of much bigger crowds. We've seen Luis Figo triumphing there while other Portuguese players didn't do so well," Sa Pinto adds.
"Nevertheless, no one can expect him to hit the ground running and make the difference right away. Not even Griezmann has been able so far to replicate the same level he had before. But the talent is there, and so is the mentality. Trincao is, above all, a joy to watch."
Trincao, who wears the No. 77, actually made his senior debut at the age of just 16 when he played for Braga's reserve side in the Portuguese second-tier.
A year later, he was already included in the matchday squad for an away clash versus Istanbul Basaksehir in the Europa League, but he almost missed out on the trip because he needed his parents' permission to travel to Turkey.
Playing among older players has never intimidated the boy from Viana do Castelo, a Portuguese northern town mostly known for its "bolas de berlim," the country's favourite doughnut-like pastry.
"Trincao has a peculiarity that distinguishes him from other athletes: He was born on December 29, 1999. It's a detail that no one pays much attention, but that can make a difference on whether a boy will become a professional footballer or not," Aroso explains.
"He grew up playing with kids who were basically a year older than him and still managed to stand out between them. That's a remarkable thing.
"If you check it out, it's not easy to find players born in the end of the year who had a successful career. In order to make it through, they need to be much better than the rest. That's how impressive Trincao is.
"He would have played for a different age group if he had come to this world three days later."
Despite Trincao's obvious talent, the Barcelona deal did come as a bit of a bolt from the blue, even for those who rate him so highly.
Trincao Francisco of Portugal (L) and Kyrylo Dryshliuk of Ukraine vie for the ball during the football 2018 UEFA European Under-19 Championship semifinal match Ukraine vs Portugal in Vaasa, Finland on July 26, 2018. (Photo by Timo Aalto / Lehtikuva / AFP)
"I was a bit surprised by the Barcelona deal. I didn't expect such a giant side to come after him this soon," Aroso admits.
"But if you asked me if I believed this would eventually happen in the future, I would have no doubt.
"If he has some luck, believes in himself and plays regularly, he will certainly become a great player, maybe a top-class one."
A versatile dribbler who can play anywhere across the front three, he has spent most of this season on the right wing, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in all competitions so far.
"He feels more comfortable receiving the ball on the opposite foot, collecting it deep and taking defenders on one-on-one. He has a fantastic left foot and is sensational in the final third," Sa Pinto explains.
"He's the sort of player that the Camp Nou loves."
The flashes of brilliance this season were enough to convince Barcelona to trigger his release clause and snap him up, especially with other clubs like Atalanta and Juventus heavily linked with him in the past, per Sport's Ivan San Antonio.
"Even though he doesn't play for one of Portugal's big three, he's currently the most valuable youngster in Portuguese domestic football," Tomas da Cunha, a football pundit for Eleven Sports and TSF, tells B/R.
"He probably will not have to wait much for his first international call-up, considering the impact he has made with Braga and how far he can still progress."
Portugal can already call on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix. Trincao will surely be joining the gang soon.
Sergi Roberto, Marco Asensio Confirmed for La Liga FIFA Tournament
Mar 19, 2020
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 19: Marco Asensio of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Real Betis Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 19, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Barcelona will be represented by Sergi Roberto and Real Madrid by Marco Asensio in La Liga's FIFA tournament organised by YouTuber Ibai Llanos.
In the absence of any actual football because of the coronavirus pandemic, all 20 Spanish top-flight teams have now confirmed a representative for the online tournament, per Marca:
"It hasn't been 24 hours since I put the tweet out and we already have all 20 top teams confirmed. This Thursday will have the draw, [then] Friday, Saturday and Sunday the tournament. Ruben Martin, Miguel Angel Roman, Antoni Daimiel and Manolo Lama are coming to commentate. It's going to get messy, it's going to get really messy."
As with Europe's other leagues, La Liga has been suspended in a bid to control the spread of the coronavirus.
There has not been a top-flight fixture in Spain since Real Sociedad's 2-1 win at Eibar on March 10, which was played behind closed doors.
In theory, that means a resumption of proceedings on the weekend of April 4, when the fixture list includes Sevilla against Barcelona and Real Madrid against La Real. However, further delays are a possibility.
Spain is the second-worst coronavirus affected country in Europe behind Italy. Per CNN, as of Wednesday, there have been 11,178 cases in the country and 491 deaths.
Florentino Perez Issues Open Letter to Real Madrid Fans Amid Coronavirus
Mar 18, 2020
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 05: : President of Real Madrid Florentino Perez attends during the signing of the sponsorship agreement between Real Madrid CF and Mahou 5 Estrellas at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on March 05, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. at Bernabeu on March 05, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Samuel de Roman/Getty Images)
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has issued an open letter to the club's fans amid the coronavirus pandemic urging them "to remain strong and united in our values."
Posted on the club's official website, the letter explained the club have suspended training and matches across the board, as well as cancelling all activities at its facilities, Real Madrid City and the Real Madrid Foundation, and closing membership offices and tours of the Santiago Bernabeu.
Perez went on to urge fans to comply with authorities by "remaining at home," and finished with the promise that "we will enjoy Real Madrid again with the same passion and the same dreams as always."
Meanwhile, they are trailing 2-1 to Manchester City in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after giving up a 1-0 lead in the opening leg of the tie at the Bernabeu.
The return leg at the Etihad Stadium was scheduled to take place on Tuesday before UEFA confirmed the postponement of all upcoming Champions League and UEFA Europa League fixtures.
