Eibar 1-2 Real Sociedad.
On the face of it, it looks like a standard La Liga result at the start of the ‘business-end’ to the season. A result which allowed European chasing Sociedad to sneak into the all-important fourth spot (a Champions League berth) and left Eibar still looking over their shoulder with little room for manoeuvre in the bid to beat the drop.
What few knew at the time, however, was that it was to be the final match in the Spanish top-flight for some time; perhaps the final match of the 2019/20 campaign completely.
At the very least, it will have been the last time for a few months that fans will have witnessed La Liga highlights or been able to test themselves with the SBOBET La Liga betting odds.
And as I’ve already indicated on these pages, it is most definitely uncharted waters. Uncharted territory and, in the scheme of things, out of the hands of football’s authorities – such is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the priority of a globe’s health.
Right now, we know that the Spanish Football Federation hopes whenever football does restart, the Copa del Rey final will be held as a tribute to the victims of the virus.
When football does resume – whether this season or for a complete new one – it would though, seem even the best clubs are not without difficulties of a footballing nature.
Reigning champions and league leaders Barcelona have been rocked by multiple resignations from their key board members due to an ongoing dispute about the team’s direction.
Emili Rousaud, Enrique Tombas, Silvio Elias, Josep Pont, Jordi Calsamiglia, and Maria Teixidor were apparently unhappy with how the Catalan giants are being run by president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Bartomeu may have come under fire for causing disruption amongst his board and the club, but his predecessor thinks the current president is misunderstood.
Barcelona is a presidential institution and, therefore, the president has to feel supported by his directors,’, said Sandro Rosell.
From in the boardroom to on the pitch – what of the current state of play over at their arch-rivals Real Madrid?
Well, both players and coaches are still set on relinquishing Barca’s grip on the title but don’t expect full-team training to take place until the end of May, with football returning in mid-June if everything progresses well with the safety of the players and those involved guaranteed.
Whether there is more 2019-20 action or not, the priority for Real and manager Zinedine Zidane is reshaping the squad.
There is a group of stalwarts who fast approach the twilight of their playing careers – key figures in Real’s trio of successive Champions League triumphs from 2016-2018.
The likes of Sergio Ramos (34), Marcelo (31), Luka Modric (34) and Karim Benzema (32) will all need replacing sooner rather than later. That’s not to say there are not promising youngsters coming through the ranks such as Achraf Hakimi (21), Eder Militao (22), Fede Valverde (21), Martin Odegaard (21) and Vinicius Junior (19).
In contrast, of course, footballing issues pale into insignificance at some clubs who could be simply left fighting for their very future the longer this pandemic goes on.
As it stands, the main objective of virtually all parties is to complete the La Liga season.
Yet the Spanish Football Federation Delegate Commission decided last week that if that is not possible, the four Champions League spots would go to the current top four, with fifth and sixth going into the Europa League.
If the season cannot be completed, that would mean Valencia – currently sat outside the European places in seventh spot – would lose up to 50 million euros in revenue by not playing in Europe next season.
Under that proposal, Albert Celades’ side would miss out with Getafe and Atletico Madrid receiving Europa League spots next term.
That would be a further blow to Los Che whose players are already accepting considerable pay cuts after club president Anil Murthy reached an agreement on an 18 per cent salary cut while the current season is up in the air.
In the event that the campaign gets back underway, there will be a nine per cent salary reduction – much higher than what the players had demanded at the beginning.
That is just one example. There will, no doubt, be similar obstacles facing other clubs, so we watch this space.
What we do know is that, even if the season is brought to an end due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 19 goals scored by Lionel Messi, the top scorer in the league so far, and the record of Atletico’sJan Oblak, the goalkeeper who has conceded the least with 21 goals, will still be official.
It’s been confirmed all the records to date in 2019/20 will be counted towards their personal statistics and those of the competition, regardless of whether the competition ends or not.
That is something that should be applauded at such a time of uncertainty.
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