Can a derby survive a stadium jam? The Barça‑Espanyol match of the 13th round of the Liga F Moeve was slated for Tuesday Dec 8 at 17:00, with DAZN, TV3 and TVE set to air it, but the league found the Estadi Johan Cruyff is already booked for that time.
If you track youth football, you’ll note UEFA scheduled the Barça‑Manchester City Youth League fixture for Tuesday at 16:00, marking the final league‑stage match. The Juvenil A squad always uses the Estadi Johan Cruyff for European ties, guaranteeing superb TV coverage.
The clash falls on the holiday of the Immaculate Conception, making a one‑day delay for the women’s derby likely. Youth League Sub‑19 games share the date with senior Champions League fixtures to streamline travel for juniors and the first team. That same Tuesday sees the senior Barça‑Manchester City showdown at Spotify Camp Nou at 21:00. In my view, shifting the Liga F match avoids a chaotic schedule.
Moving the Barça‑Espanyol fixture to Wednesday Dec 9 would sidestep TV conflicts; that day already hosts Deportivo Abanca‑Real Sociedad (18:00), Eibar‑Logroño United (19:00) and Sevilla‑Granada (20:00). Meanwhile, Real Madrid‑Madrid CFF plays on Tuesday at 19:00, so no overlap occurs. Could this reshuffle set a new precedent for coordinating women’s and youth matches?