According to AS, the condition of pitches at several La Liga stadiums raised concerns at the start of this season, with particularly affected fields including Vallecas and Castalia.

Spain experienced persistently high temperatures and numerous devastating wildfires throughout the summer. Professional clubs have been working to mitigate the impact of this weather on their stadium pitches. However, following the start of the new season, some fields continued to display serious issues, with some even damaged by aggressive fungal infections destroying the grass.

Notably, Andalusia, which experienced the highest temperatures, did not suffer severe pitch problems. Balaídos was hit hardest, with its pitch struck by fungal disease, forcing the postponement of Celta Vigo's opening match against Osasuna. The stadium underwent emergency repairs and remains in recovery. The match finally took place last Thursday, with the pitch looking considerably improved.

Osasuna also suffered directly from pitch problems. When the team played Levante in the opening round, the pitch condition was extremely poor, affecting passing and game flow. After the match, the pitch became a focal point of discussion. Few had ever seen it in such poor condition, with significant sand coverage and an uneven surface.

Osasuna manager Luis Miguel Ramis was highly dissatisfied. When asked after the match, he initially deflected: "I'm not a gardener. You also saw the friendly match at Aín, and the pitch was equally poor, with plenty of sand. I don't understand this either." He then added: "A pitch needs three things: sunlight, water, and maintenance. There's sunlight, and I think there's water, so perhaps more effort is needed in maintenance to improve the situation. The fact is, it's not good right now. I can't say more—it's a matter of groundskeeping."

Since 2021, El Sadar has used a hybrid pitch consisting primarily of natural grass reinforced with synthetic fibers for durability. This summer, Pamplona experienced higher than normal temperatures, which clearly affected the pitch. The club offered an explanation: "You can lay sod rolls or overseed. We chose overseeding because theoretically the grass should have grown by August. We were told it was too hot and the seeds didn't germinate well. We treated and fertilized it, but it's recovering slowly and isn't in the best condition." The club also stated: "Usually clubs have their own groundskeepers and also contract outside companies. In Spain, almost all La Liga pitches are maintained by one of two companies: Rasi Turri or Royal Verd. We work with Royal Verd for many years."

Solutions are now on the agenda. The situation at Vallecas stadium is not new. The pitch condition represents only a small part of the overall decline and lack of maintenance there. Since the team relocated to Butarque, external attention to this issue has shifted. Before the opening round, media captured images of partially sparse and uneven pitch surfaces. The club stated the pitch underwent routine maintenance work over the summer to address long-term wear. This issue was further compounded by criticism at the start of 2026 regarding poor drainage and pitch conditions, which forced the team to completely replace the pitch in February.

However, Rayo Vallecano now faces yet another unsatisfactory pitch. In fact, Leganés was forced to hold its Villa de Leganés tournament several days ago at Butarque's training facilities in Ciudad Deportiva rather than at its home stadium. Although the pitch initially received technical clearance, the coach and players rejected it, deeming the surface still unstable and unsuitable for training.

Such non-use of Butarque for matches is unusual, further highlighting the pitch problem. Over the past three seasons, particularly after a change in ownership, the pitch has performed poorly at the start of the season, linked to the club's commercial desire to increase revenue by opening the stadium for events. This dispute peaked last season. When the team played Cádiz in the second round, the pitch was in extremely poor condition, and despite using substantial green dye to mask damage, the jerseys became so stained they were nearly unusable. The club even demanded compensation from the maintenance company for the damaged jerseys. At least this year, the problem was resolved more quickly, and by the time Vallecano played, the pitch had improved. Leganés will play only one match at Butarque through September this season specifically to protect the pitch.

Meanwhile, Villarreal continues to advance improvement and expansion projects at its two main facilities—Estadio de la Cerámica and José Manuel Llaneza Sports City. Both arenas are being modernized and adapted to remain contemporary and cutting-edge in infrastructure. The latest development is that Villarreal began laying new grass at Estadio de la Cerámica several days ago in preparation for its home debut in the fourth round of the league. Many clubs take advantage of this window before summer competitions begin to complete such work.

In La Liga 2, the pitch at Castellón's "SkyFi Castellia" was suboptimal in a recent match against Sabadell due to delays in both seeding and growth. The club reinforced some areas with sod rolls, and La Liga also sent an expert. The club stated the pitch would return to normal condition by the next home match. This was also the conclusion reached by the maintenance company and the La Liga expert after observing the pitch and monitoring changes over three consecutive days. The club had requested postponement of the opening home match.

Manager Pablo Hernández said: "Even mid-week we communicated with La Liga because three or four days ago this pitch was completely unplayable, and the match should have been cancelled then." He added: "It's very unfortunate that we have to play at home in such pitch conditions." The club's groundskeeping staff are working hard on repairs, but immediate results are difficult to achieve in such circumstances. The manager believes Castellón must have a quality pitch to play its style of football. "We need to determine exactly what went wrong and the current situation. Ultimately, when we play at home, we need a pitch that allows us to play as we want. Everyone must work together to find available solutions and identify the best one, so that by the match against Albacete the stadium is in optimal condition, because if we want to play our football, we must maintain the pitch properly." Over time, this issue appears to be resolving.

Переведено ИИ.

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