Barcelona and Osasuna have lost their appeal over the rescheduled date of their La Liga clash, which remains penciled in for March 27.
The two sides were due to meet on March 8 but saw the fixture postponed following the sudden death of Barca team doctor Carles Minarro Garcia.
Earlier this week, La Liga rescheduled the fixture for March 27 at the end of the international break, but both Barcelona and Osasuna argued against the decision as they felt it would not give their players sufficient rest following the international break. Osasuna also had a game against Athletic Club scheduled for March 28.
Alternative dates in both April and May were suggested by the two sides but the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have ruled that international participation is not sufficient justification to go against league rules, which state postponed fixtures must be rescheduled for the earliest possible date. March 27 is an available date as FIFA’s calendar states the international window only runs until March 25.
Osasuna’s fixture with Athletic has been moved back to March 30.
With the game between Barcelona and Osasuna set to go ahead on March 27, the Catalans face the prospect of being without centre-back Ronald Araujo and Ballon d’Or candidate Raphinha. The former is in action with Uruguay on the evening of March 25, while Raphinha’s Brazil take on Argentina in the early hours of Wednesday morning (GMT).
Osasuna will also likely be without Cameroon international Enzo Boyomo, who is also due to play on March 25.
Questions will also be asked of the players in action earlier in the international break. For Barcelona, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde all play on March 23, while Robert Lewandowski’s Poland have a game on March 24.
Spain Under-21 stars Fermin Lopez, Gerard Martin and Pablo Torre are also due to face Germany in a friendly on March 25, but as this is not a competitive fixture, Barcelona have the right to pull the trio out of the squad.
