La Liga: Valencia vs Real Madrid match postponed over deadly floods
Residents gather in the street next to a pile of cars on October 31, 2024 after flash floods affected the town of Massanassa, in the region of Valencia, eastern Spain.
Rescuers raced on October 31, 2024 to find survivors and victims of once-in-a-generation floods in Spain that killed at least 95 people and left towns submerged in a muddy deluge with overturned cars scattered in the streets.
About 1,000 troops joined police and firefighters in the grim search for bodies in the Valencia region as Spain started three days of mourning. Up to a year’s rain fell in a few hours on the eastern city of Valencia and surrounding region on October 29 sending torrents of water and mud through towns and cities.
Real Madrid’s away match at Valencia in La Liga this weekend was postponed on Thursday by the Spanish football federation due to floods that have killed more than 95 people.
Villarreal’s home match against Rayo Vallecano was also suspended after the devastating flash floods in eastern Spain.
La Liga asked the Spanish football federation (RFEF) to postpone Valencia and Villarreal’s matches on Saturday, as well as three second division games involving teams from affected areas.
“It has been agreed to postpone matches that were to be played in professional and non-professional competitions, both in 11-a-side football and in indoor football (in the Valencia region),” the RFEF said in a statement.
The federation had already postponed several midweek Copa del Rey first round matches including Valencia’s game against Parla Escuela.
A moment of silence for the flood victims will be held at matches this weekend in Spain, including league leaders Barcelona’s Catalan derby against Espanyol on Sunday.