We must understand Castilla's reasons for postponing its matches, even though those same reasons didn't apply in the past for Barça or Barça Atlètic. We must understand that Real Madrid found it convenient to start LaLiga on a Tuesday. We must understand everything about Real Madrid, but nothing about Barça.
They understand that the Catalan club is just days away from reclaiming its lifelong home. Meanwhile, while that happens, an opportunity opens up for Barça, the current champion, to lose in the offices.
Real Madrid played LaLiga with lower capacity at Di Stéfano
"Either by legal means or by any means necessary," said Jesús Gil. That's how envy works now against the club of the team that's champion of LaLiga, Copa, and Supercopa.
In Madrid, a handful of clubs are being mobilized to challenge the Barça-Valencia match if it's played at Johan Cruyff Stadium. They want Barça to be handed a loss for the match. Because the stadium doesn't meet LaLiga's requirements, a capacity for 15,000 people (15,000).
In the same situation, when it didn't have a stadium, Real Madrid played its LaLiga matches at Di Stéfano. Even smaller than Johan Cruyff.
With its capacity limitations, below what's required by FIFA, Bernabéu aims to host the 2030 World Cup final.
Now it's about beating Barça in the offices, with the complicity of sociological Madridism, something they're not able to achieve on the field.
What the regulations say
The regulations are clear: First Division stadiums must have a capacity greater than 15,000 spectators (15,000).
However, Johan Cruyff Stadium, which is being used as a temporary solution, barely reaches 7,500 seats (7,500). A figure that doesn't comply with the regulations and opens the door to a legal battle.
A provisional Camp Nou that's not ready
Barça trusted it could use the provisional Camp Nou, with a capacity of 27,000 seats (27,000), to comply with the regulations without complications. However, the construction hasn't been completed yet and the Barcelona City Council refuses to sign the completion document that would authorize its opening.
The delay has left the blaugrana entity in an uncomfortable situation. The schedule doesn't wait and the match against Valencia is approaching without a definitive solution.
The board is working against the clock. The lack of a municipal response threatens to force a scenario that convinces no one: playing the match at Johan Cruyff.
Clubs at war
Given the possibility that the match will be played at the Ciudad Deportiva stadium, several First Division clubs have reacted quickly. The regulations are clear and they believe that, if Barça can't comply, it must face the consequences.
Some teams have already conveyed their discomfort to LaLiga. They're preparing a formal challenge in case Barça-Valencia is played at Johan Cruyff.
They argue that allowing this exception would mean unfair treatment and a dangerous precedent for the competition. The threat is real: if it's approved, they could demand that the three points go directly to Valencia.
The pressure on Laporta
At Camp Nou, they're aware that this situation is not only a sporting problem, but also an institutional one. Joan Laporta faces a new front of pressure, with the need to prevent Barça from losing points off the field.
The club insists that this is an exceptional circumstance and that Johan Cruyff meets all the safety and comfort conditions to host the match. However, the capacity regulation weighs heavily and rivals are ready to exploit the gap.
Risk of scandal in LaLiga
What should have been a simple logistical procedure could end up as a scandal of considerable proportions. If Barça manages to convince LaLiga and the City Council in the coming hours, it will be able to play at the provisional Camp Nou and avoid the controversy.
If the match ends up being played at Johan Cruyff, the legal battle will be on. The risk of a massive challenge is extremely high and, in that scenario, Barça could see the points decided in the offices.
This is how the issue was experienced last night on El Chiringuito
Jota Jordi: "Several teams have contacted LaLiga. They'll cause problems if Barça plays against Valencia at Johan Cruyff. They'll request that the match be challenged."
Alfredo Duro: "LaLiga can do whatever show it wants with Barcelona. This isn't a team with a 6,000 or 8,000-seat stadium (6,000 or 8,000) that's promoted to First Division and LaLiga gives it that margin in the first year."
Jota Jordi: "The rule says what it says, that you have to present two stadiums. Barça has presented Camp Nou and Montjuïc. For a major reason, because there's a concert, LaLiga is obliged to provide you with a stadium."
Alfredo Duro: "That exception is understood when you've just been promoted from Second to First. They're given a year of margin to stay in First with the stadium meeting the rules.
The case of Barcelona is a show and the rule is being broken. It must be challenged, and if the match is played at Johan Cruyff, Barcelona must lose that match. Getafe, which is next, will also challenge it.
You can't play at Johan Cruyff because the rule says what it says."