Valencia ask to postpone Real Madrid game after floods – source

Valencia have requested the postponement of Saturday’s home game against Real Madrid after flooding in southeastern Spain left at least 70 people dead, a source confirmed to ESPN.

A LaLiga source said the league plans to make a decision on whether the match, scheduled to take place at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium, will go ahead within 24 hours.

A decision will also be made on the second division match between Levante and Malaga, to be played in the city on Monday. Levante is also based in Valencia

The calls to suspend the matches come after storm Dana’s torrential rains brought flooding to several regions of southern and eastern Spain, cutting roads and rail lines.

The Valencia area, along with Albacete, is one of the worst hit, and the government’s emergency coordination center confirmed on Wednesday that the latest known death toll is 70, with many people still missing.

The Spanish government has also declared three days of mourning for the victims of the floods, starting on Thursday and running until Saturday.

Valencia and Levante have both already had requests to cancel this week’s Copa del Rey matches accepted by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Valencia were due to travel on Wednesday for their match against Parla Escuela in Madrid, while Levante were due to fly to Galicia to face Pontevedra CF.

These two first round matches will now take place next week, on November 6 and 7 respectively.

Three other matches have also been postponed due to the storm: Xerez’s tie with AD Ceuta, SD Ejea against Hércules and Getafe’s trip to Manises.

Madrid, who will travel to Valencia on Saturday pending LaLiga’s decision, observed a minute’s silence before training on Wednesday, as many Spanish clubs did, and released a statement expressing their sympathy.

“Real Madrid, the president of the club and the board would like to express their condolences to the families and loved ones of the people who have lost their lives as a result of the storm that has affected many areas of our country, especially in the provinces of Valencia and Albacete,” the statement read .

“Real Madrid is deeply saddened and expresses its solidarity with all the people affected by this disaster, to whom it offers all its full support and sympathy.”