Source: Valencia want Real game ppd. after floods

Valencia have requested the postponement of Saturday’s home fixture against Real Madrid after floods in the south-east of Spain left at least 70 people dead, a source confirmed to ESPN.

A LaLiga source said the league plan to make a decision on whether the game scheduled to take place in Valencia’s Mestalla stadium will go ahead within 24 hours.

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

The requests to suspend the matches come after storm Dana’s torrential rain brought flash floods across several regions in the southern and eastern parts of Spain, cutting off roads and railway lines.

The Valencia area, along with Albacete, is one of the worst affected and the government’s emergency coordination centre confirmed Wednesday the latest number of known fatalities stands at 70, with many people still missing.

The Spanish government have 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 games 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 scheduled to fly to Galicia to face Pontevedra CF.

Those two first round games will now take place next week, on Nov. 6 and Nov. 7 respectively.

Three other games 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 are due to travel to Valencia on Saturday pending LaLiga’s decision, held a minute’s silence before training on Wednesday, as many Spanish clubs did, and released a statement expressing their sympathy.

“Real Madrid, the club’s president and the board of directors would like to extend their condolences to the families and loved ones of the people who have lost their lives as a result of the storm that has hit 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 catastrophe, to whom it conveys all its full support and sympathy.”