Barcelona consider following Real Madrid’s lead by playing LaLiga fixtures in tiny stadium

Barcelona consider following Real Madrid’s lead with plan to play remaining LaLiga fixtures in reserve side’s tiny Johan Cruyff Stadium… in a bid to help stars deal with psychology of behind-closed-doors matches

  • It was revealed on Monday that Real Madrid could relocate to B-team’s stadium
  • Barcelona are considering following their lead at their own 6,000-seat stadium
  • It is thought that psychologically players will be able to deal better in small arena
  • Clubs would need to install VAR facilities in ‘new’ homes before first game back

LaLiga‘s season could be played out between Alfredo Di Stefano and Johan Cruyff if Barcelona join Real Madrid in playing their remaining fixtures in the stadium of their B-team.

Barca will consider playing their remaining LaLiga fixtures at the 6,000 capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium if Madrid go ahead with plans to play at the 6,000 capacity Alfredo di Stefano stadium.

Both clubs feel that the psychological effect on players of playing without fans could be limited by playing in smaller arenas.

Barcelona are looking at the possibility of finishing the season at the Johan Cruyff Stadium

The club think playing in a smaller stadium will help their players deal with the lack of fans

The club think playing in a smaller stadium will help their players deal with the lack of fans

Barcelona are used to playing at the mammoth Nou Camp, which holds nearly 100,000 fans

Barcelona are used to playing at the mammoth Nou Camp, which holds nearly 100,000 fans

And both B-team arenas are also inside the two clubs’ huge training complexes which means if LaLiga insist on players and staff being in quarantine during the playing out of their remaining 11 fixtures players could stay on-site.

Both clubs would need to install VAR facilities in their ‘new’ homes before the first game back. 

And Barcelona could have more difficulty than Real Madrid if they decide to move because Uefa have to sanction any change of stadium midway through the season.

Real Madrid have good reason to make their proposed move because work has already started on the renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu and the club would find it difficult to host matches in their 80,000-seater ground through the summer.

Barcelona are also renovating their stadium but progress is nowhere near as advanced with their Espai Barça project on hold pending an new referendum of supporters as to whether to accept the costing of the renovation.

Former Barcelona player and coach Carles Rexach said in his Mundo Deportivo column on Tuesday: ‘The Johan Cruyff stadium would be a magnificent alternative to minimise the impact of the cold spacious stands [of an empty Camp Nou]. Having just a few people in the smaller stadium can make it feel less empty.’

Real Madrid are considering playing matches at the 6,000-seat Alfredo Di Stefano stadium

Real Madrid are considering playing matches at the 6,000-seat Alfredo Di Stefano stadium

Barcelona did play a behind-closed-doors game at the Nou Camp due to riots in the city

Barcelona did play a behind-closed-doors game at the Nou Camp due to riots in the city




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