Fri Apr 18 19:26:59 UTC 2025: ## Barcelona’s Quadruple Bid Faces Scheduling Headache Ahead of Celta Vigo Clash
**Barcelona, Spain** – Barcelona’s pursuit of a historic quadruple faces a significant hurdle as fixture congestion forces manager Hansi Flick to publicly criticize La Liga’s scheduling. The Catalan giants host Celta Vigo on Saturday at 4:15 pm (GMT) looking to extend their league lead to seven points, but the upcoming schedule has left Flick fuming.
Barcelona’s La Liga match against Real Valladolid has been moved to a 9:00 pm kickoff on May 3rd, leaving less than 72 hours before their crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan on May 6th. Flick called the scheduling a “joke,” stating that La Liga is failing to prioritize player welfare, unlike other major leagues. He demanded a meeting with league officials to address the issue.
“I never had this before,” Flick said. “Every league protects their clubs when they play in the Champions League, especially in the semifinals. Bundesliga, Premier League, take care of the clubs. But here not. It’s just let them play.”
Despite their recent 3-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarterfinals (progressing 5-3 on aggregate), Barcelona are favorites against Celta Vigo, who sit seventh in the table and are pushing for European qualification. Flick praised Celta’s manager, Claudio Giraldez, but emphasized the importance of Barcelona performing at their best to overcome the challenge.
Barcelona will be without Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen due to injury, while Celta Vigo will miss Hugo Alvarez and Carl Starfelt. The historical record between the two sides favors Barcelona, who have won 28 of their 57 previous meetings. However, their last encounter ended in a dramatic 2-2 draw after Celta fought back from a two-goal deficit. This Saturday’s match will be a crucial test for Barcelona as they navigate their demanding schedule and strive for an unprecedented quadruple.
First Piper 