LaLiga chiefs have already decided USA game and date: SER
Despite all the apparent agreements to be made and hoops to be jumped through, reports in Spain say the fixture to be played in the US is already set.
LaLiga has already decided which fixture will be played in the United States of America this season: Girona vs Barcelona, on matchday 21. According to Spanish programme Cadena SER, the league's chief Javier Tebas has proposed this to Girona and is expecting a response in the coming days. This Catalan derby was the first choice to make history as revealed by AS last week, although now more information has become available.
Girona - Barcelona: planned debut for USA
Amongst the challenges that remain ahead the location and date have come to light. The fixture was scheduled to be held in Montilivi, Girona, on January 27, 2019. This would sit between the two legs of the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey. For LaLiga, this clash creates fewer problems than another game that had been considered, that of Betis vs Barcelona on March 17.
But, problem-free is unlikely to be the case. Both of these teams could well feature in the last eight and the cup games on January 23 and 30 would make it almost impossible for them to travel for the high-profiled encounter on foreign soil in between.
US plan has challenges ahead
Add to this the response of the league's footballers and their union over the controversial agreement between their employers and the US company, Relevent, question marks remain over the idea coming to fruition. As is often the case, money talks, but if players and clubs feel that this could go against their interests on the pitch, other comprimises may need to be made.
A meeting is scheduled between LaLiga and AFE in the coming weeks and, although there are outstanding issues, AS understands that Tebas and co. will not back down. Interestingly, according to José David Palacio, the contract does not include any reference to there being a minimum number of matches taken out of Spain per campaign.
