Barcelona’s plan for friendly in Morocco ruled out as club learn schedule for Villarreal match | OneFootball

As Barcelona resume their campaign after the November international break, the club have a daunting schedule which starts against Athletic Club and ends against Villarreal.

It is the same Villarreal game, which was supposed to be held in the United States, but will now be hosted at La Ceramica.

In order to offset the missed opportunity of playing a lucrative Miami match, Barcelona were keen on organising a quick friendly on another continent, shortly after the Villarreal game.

It was even reported that the club were in talks over a friendly in Morocco, which now appears to have been ruled out.

Villarreal date confirmed, Morocco friendly ruled out

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have learnt that they will play against Villarreal on December 21 at La Ceramica.

This serves as a major blow for Barcelona, as it has effectively ruled out the possibility of scheduling a friendly in Morocco.

Hansi Flick’s men will face Villarreal on December 21. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

The proposed friendly in Morocco, tentatively targeted for Monday, December 22nd, has been ruled out due to labour regulations.

Under the LaLiga-AFE collective agreement, players are mandated to be back in Spain by 23:59 on December 22nd to officially begin their Christmas holidays on Tuesday the 23rd.

The logistics of playing a match abroad and returning within that window prove impossible.

Barcelona have also ruled out the friendly in Peru, which was going to be more challenging from a logistical point of view, since the country is located across the Atlantic.

As a result, Hansi Flick’s side will end their year immediately after the whistle at Villarreal, with no real possibilities of playing a friendly elsewhere in order to recoup the lost revenue opportunity in the United States.