This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
Barcelona's highly anticipated first El Classico of the new season is facing challenges, with the match scheduled for October 26. The away side, Real Madrid, have expressed concerns over their players' safety in the midst of ongoing protests in Barcelona.
Real Madrid officials have already made contact with La Liga bosses to propose playing the match at their home stadium in Madrid. If their request is approved, it would see Barcelona make the 387-mile trip to Madrid for the first edition of the historic clash.
From a neutral's perspective, having the first El Classico in Madrid would give Los Blancos an edge over their rivals, with the La Liga summit to play for. The decision comes as Barcelona has been experiencing some political turmoil, with large sections of Catalans pushing for independence from Spain.
On Tuesday, October 15, police and thousands of Catalan protesters clashed in the streets of Barcelona, following the sentencing of nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years behind bars.
