Spanish government considering allowing fans into stadiums for final games of season
The weekend of May 9 is heralded as a possible return date for both professional football and basketball competitions
The Spanish government are looking at the possibility of allowing fans to return to stadiums in the professional football and basketball leagues, according to various media outlets across Spain.
Players and fans have spent 14 months separated from each other during the coronavirus pandemic, with March 8, 2020, being the last date that a stadium heard chants and cheers.
Cadena Ser and Copa have both reported the possibility of supporters returning to their home grounds for the last few games of this campaign.
There are two options on the table for the potential return, which still needs to be officially decided upon by health officials from the Spanish government. Either fans could fill the stands against for the final four matchdays, or else the last two games.
If the maximum permittance is given and supporters are given the green light to return for four games, this would coincide with the weekend of the end of the state of alarm - May 9.
Capacities are also yet to be determined, with some media outlets reporting 5,000 supporters would be allowed in, and others say 25%. Other safety measures will be applicable including wearing face masks, and consumption of food or drink permitted.
If fans are allowed in for the final four rounds of games, then this would cover some of the most decisive fixtures remaining in the calendar, including Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid, as well as Real Madrid vs Sevilla, two key games in determining where the La Liga title will end up this season as Barça are in the hunt for that honour, hoping to collect a domestic double for the 2020/21 season.
In the second division, Espanyol are also aiming for the top spot and an immediate return to La Liga. They currently lead the league table, with a 12-point gap over third place Almería, the closest team in the table that would have to catch the Catalans if Espanyol are to miss out on automatic promotion.
Girona, meanwhile, sit just two points away from the final playoff spot, meaning they are in contention to return to the top division as well after two years away.
At the other end of the table, Sabadell, having just been promoted into the professional divisions last summer, currently sit in the relegation zone but are just two points away from safety.
In basketball, supporters could also see the last four games of their team's season. Barça are currently three wins away from Real Madrid at the top of the table.
With only the top eight qualifying for the post-season playoffs, things are hotting up at the cutoff point. Currently, Joventut de Badalona and Manresa occupy the last two playoff berths. Badalona have a three-win gap over the 9th placed side, while Manresa are just one win above the cutoff point.