The first-round La Liga match between Celta and Osasuna has been postponed due to a fungal disease affecting the Balaídos pitch, and the new date has sparked fierce discontent at the Pamplona club, for whom Croatian international Ante Budimir plays.
The first-round Spanish league match between Celta and Osasuna, originally scheduled for Sunday (August 16, 2026) in Vigo, has been postponed due to the poor condition of the Balaídos pitch, which has been affected by a fungal disease. The new date, August 27 at 8:30 PM, has sparked strong discontent at Osasuna, for whom Croatian international striker Ante Budimir plays.
Competition organizer LaLiga postponed the match at Celta's request, deeming that the pitch would not be ready by Sunday. Although at one point it seemed the situation was calming down, the recent rise in temperatures further fueled the fungus's growth, preventing the pitch from meeting the minimum standards required for play.
LaLiga inspectors were expected to examine the pitch within 24 hours to assess its condition. Meanwhile, Slobodna Dalmacija reports the postponement as a done deal, while Goal.com earlier reported that the match was merely in serious doubt, indicating how quickly the situation escalated during the day.
In its statement, Celta noted that LaLiga inspectors visited Balaídos and confirmed that efforts to eradicate the turf disease were underway and that the stadium met the required quality and safety standards. However, the meteorological conditions over the past few days have had a negative impact on the pitch's recovery, leading to the decision to postpone the match.
The Pamplona club expressed its "total disagreement" with the new date and stated that it is the biggest loser due to the decision by LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Osasuna understands the reasons why the match cannot be played on the originally scheduled date but believes that Celta and Osasuna should have agreed on a new date together.
According to Osasuna, the clubs had previously agreed that September 24 or 25, during the international break, would be the most suitable dates for the match. Osasuna claims that LaLiga and the RFEF were informed of this agreement. Despite this, it was decided that the match would be played on August 27, meaning Osasuna will have to face Levante on Monday, August 24, and then travel to Vigo just three days later, with travel between the two matches.
Osasuna also emphasizes that its proposal to play the Levante match earlier, to give the team more recovery time, was not accepted. The club's statement reads:
"There is no regulation, criterion, or explanation that can justify a decision that, despite the date agreed upon by the two clubs, particularly harms the very club that was already disadvantaged by the initial postponement."
The club concluded its statement with a sharp message: "This isn't football, this is La Liga."
The pitch problem is the latest blow for Balaídos, which is currently undergoing a long-term renovation as a potential host venue for the 2030 World Cup. According to Goal.com, the stadium currently holds 24,870 spectators, with a planned capacity of between 40,000 and 44,000 after the renovation.
Celta originally had the right to postpone the match after striker Borja Iglesias reached the World Cup final with Spain, but it did not exercise that option. Other Spanish giants, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, chose to postpone their opening matches to the end of the month due to players' participation in the World Cup.
Celta coach Claudio Giraldez now awaits the final decision from LaLiga before finalizing preparations for the start of the season. If the match does not go ahead as planned, his team will likely face a congested schedule later in the season, especially given the calendar adjustments after the World Cup.
