Celta Vigo v Osasuna postponed after Balaidos pitch damaged by fungus

La Liga has postponed Celta Vigo’s opening fixture against Osasuna after fungal damage left the Balaidos pitch unsuitable for football.

The match will now be played on Thursday, 27 August, with kick-off scheduled for 20:30. The decision was made by the Spanish Football Federation after discussions with both clubs, who agreed to move the first fixture of their respective La Liga campaigns to a later date.

Celta Vigo confirmed that tickets already sold for the original match will remain valid for the rearranged fixture. Supporters will not need to take any additional steps to use them on the new date.

The club also apologised to its fans for the inconvenience caused by the postponement. Many supporters had arranged their day around attending the game and backing the team at Balaidos, and Celta thanked them for their understanding in what it described as exceptional circumstances.

The decision follows an assessment of the stadium surface, which had deteriorated because of the presence of fungus. The damage meant the pitch was no longer considered suitable for a competitive football match.

La Liga is due to begin on Saturday evening with Alaves hosting Getafe at 20:30 at the Vitoria-Gasteiz stadium. The postponement means Celta Vigo and Osasuna will not start their campaigns during the opening round as originally planned.

Barcelona and Real Madrid will also miss the first round of La Liga fixtures. Their matches have been postponed because they had the highest number of players involved in the 2026 World Cup final.

Barcelona won the previous two editions of La Liga under German manager Hansi Flick. Real Madrid remain the competition’s record winners, having claimed the title 36 times.

The rearranged meeting at Balaidos will therefore become Celta Vigo and Osasuna’s opening match of the season, with both clubs having to wait until 27 August to begin their league campaigns.