Fifth Igualada-Barça match to be played in Blanes due to calendar clash

The OkLliga semi-final is moved to Blanes because the Palau Blaugrana is occupied by a basketball game.

Generic image of a roller hockey rink with empty seats and dramatic lighting.
IA

Generic image of a roller hockey rink with empty seats and dramatic lighting.

The decisive fifth OkLliga semi-final match between Igualada Rigat and Barça will finally take place in Blanes this Tuesday at 7:00 PM, due to a clash with a basketball game at the Palau Blaugrana.

The semi-final, which was scheduled to be held at the Palau Blaugrana, has been forced to change venue due to the first game of the ACB League semi-finals between Barça and Tenerife. The Barcelona court will be occupied, necessitating an alternative for the roller hockey duel.
The town of Blanes has been chosen as the alternative venue, as its parquet court resembles the one used by Barça at home, aiming to minimize the impact on the Catalan team's play. This situation has created a significant calendar bottleneck, exacerbated by the recent elimination of Real Madrid by the Barça basketball team, which has allowed them to regain home-court advantage in their tie.
The option of postponing the match until Wednesday was ruled out, as the OkLliga final begins on Friday in La Coruña. A postponement would leave very little recovery and logistical preparation time for the winner, who will have to travel to Galicia to face Liceo.
The decision has caused discontent among Igualada fans, who had planned to travel in large numbers to the Palau Blaugrana. The Igualada city council, led by mayor Marc Castells, had announced the provision of buses for the trip, a measure that now awaits confirmation.