There are afternoons when the sky decides to steal a little of the spotlight from what’s happening on the ground. This Wednesday, the magic will not only be in the boots of the Barça Women’s players, but also up in the sky. At 7:00 p.m., the Estadi Johan Cruyff will host the team’s first preseason match against Montpellier, a game that will coincide perfectly with a highly anticipated solar eclipse.
To ensure fans can safely enjoy this double spectacle, the club has put a very special plan into action. While the ball is rolling on the field—in a match that will also be broadcast on Esport3—the eclipse will begin around 7:35 p.m. and reach its peak just before 8:30 p.m. In light of this, eye protection will be distributed to attendees, and the players have been given very clear instructions to avoid dangerous lapses in concentration during the game.
Tickets are still available for the match and can be purchased on the FC Barcelona website starting at €15. Here’s the direct link to secure your spot to see the reigning Liga F and European champions in action.
Glasses for looking up and down
For those heading to the stadium, the club has prepared logistics that are highly unusual in the world of soccer. Up to 1,500 pairs of special glasses have been set aside to be distributed to the attending public. The idea is simple: to allow spectators to shift their attention between the match and the astronomical phenomenon without putting their eyesight at risk at any time.
Although the sun will slowly fade from view, the game will not be interrupted at any point. For this reason, the club has made sure to remind the players themselves of a basic rule for this afternoon: they must not look directly at the sun while the phenomenon lasts. A simple word of caution for a team that has already dazzled the soccer world and that now, in its first test of the season, seeks to shine once again—even under a partially dimmed sky.
