LaLiga pushing to make Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid first-ever Spanish top-flight match played in the U.S: Reports
LaLiga are trying to host Barcelona's upcoming league tie against Atletico Madrid in the US, according to The Daily Mail. The game could be held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in December this year.
There's a huge fan following of the Spanish league across the Atlantic. Barcelona played Real Madrid in a friendly at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this August, in front of a sellout crowd.
FIFA have always been opposed to the idea of playing a league game abroad while the Spanish Football Federation is likely to object as well. However, it remains LaLiga president Javier Tebas' dream project.
Speaking earlier to The Athletic regarding the matter, Tebas had admitted the event will depend on a lot of factors.
"It does not depend only on us, but if we are able to do it, we will. The idea is to do it as soon as possible. I cannot put a timeframe but we are already working on it. The teams that take part will do so voluntarily," said Tebas.
He continued:
"I will not decide it for them. We have to find a good date in the calendar, but we are going to try to do it in Miami, where we tried previously. We are not going to do a whole gameweek. It will be one game [per season] and that’s it."
The prospect of watching two heavyweights of Spanish football clash could pack the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and make the event a commercial success.
How have Barcelona performed under Hansi Flick this season?
Barcelona made a sudden decision to sack Xavi at the end of last season. Hansi Flick was roped in as his replacement and the German manager was tasked with getting the Catalans back to their heydays.
Meanwhile, the LaLiga giants' poor finances stifled them in the transfer market this summer. Barcelona missed out on several of their top targets and only managed to rope in Dani Olmo.
However, Flick has managed to get the Catalans firing on all cylinders. The German manager has made the most of the squad at his disposal, rejuvenating the likes of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.
Meanwhile, Pedri and Lamine Yamal have flourished under Flick, who has embraced Barcelona's youth-centric policy. The Catalans have won ten of their 12 games across competitions, including nine of ten in the league. They are leading the LaLiga title race at the moment, three points ahead of Real Madrid who are second.