The Spanish top-flight football league has officially announced the postponement of the highly anticipated clash between Celta Vigo and Osasuna, originally scheduled for Sunday evening at 21:30 CET.
In a statement released today, the league confirmed that the fixture has been pushed back to Thursday, August 27, at 20:30 CET following a thorough inspection of Balaídos stadium’s pitch. The inspection revealed a severe fungal infestation rendering the playing surface unsafe for competition.
The decision was made after league officials evaluated the stadium’s condition throughout Wednesday, with input from both clubs and the Spanish Football Federation. This marks the fourth postponement in the opening weekend fixtures of LaLiga’s new season.
Earlier this week, the league had already delayed three other matches in the first round: Valencia versus Real Betis, Real Madrid against Real Sociedad, and Barcelona’s fixture with Athletic Bilbao.
The league now holds full authority to reschedule matches without requiring further approval from the Spanish Football Federation, a power granted midway through last season.
The fungal outbreak at Balaídos has raised concerns among clubs and fans alike, with several questioning the league’s pitch maintenance protocols ahead of the new campaign.