Sports

La Liga: League to inspect Celta Vigo’s pitch after fungus outbreak

Published

49 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

La Liga officials are set to carry out a pitch inspection at Celta Vigo’s Estadio de Balaidos following a suspected fungus outbreak.

Celta are due to host Osasuna on Sunday night in their opening match of the 2026-27 season, kicking off at 20:30 BST.

Following reports in Spain of the outbreak, sources close to La Liga have told BBC Sport that the league are due to visit the 24,870-capacity stadium in Vigo in the next 24 hours to assess if the match can be played as scheduled.

The pitch is said to have been hit by a fungus infection that has damaged the playing surface, with Celta Vigo believed to have requested that the match is postponed.

Meanwhile, opponents Osasuna are said to be open to playing the fixture as scheduled.

Spain’s national team played a friendly against Iraq at the Esadio de Balaidos in June ahead of their successful 2026 World Cup-winning campaign over the summer.

The stadium has been undergoing renovation works for more than a decade, with it planned to be among the 11 Spanish stadia used to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco.

Once renovation works are completed, the arena is set to increase its capacity to between 40,000 and 44,000.

Celta originally had the option to postpone the match due to striker Borja Iglesias reaching the World Cup final with Spain, but opted not too.

Three La Liga matches that were due to be played on the opening weekend, Valencia v Real Betis, Real Madrid v Real Sociedad and Barcelona v Athletic Club, have all been rescheduled for later in the month due to clubs having players involved in the World Cup final.

Sports

The Hundred 2026 results: Welsh Fire beat London Spirit to end campaign on a high

Published

2 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

The Hundred women’s competition, Sophia Gardens

Welsh Fire 138-7 (100 balls): Wareham 50 (34); Harris 3-15

London Spirit 123 (99 balls): Dean 27 (20); Potts 3-23

Welsh Fire won by 15 runs

Scorecard. Table

Georgia Wareham hit her first half-century in The Hundred as Welsh Fire ended their campaign with a comfortable 15-run win over London Spirit.

With both sides already eliminated, only pride was at stake at Sophia Gardens, and Wareham’s 33-ball fifty proved decisive.

The Australia all-rounder took Fire to a winning total of 138-7 with a fine late assault to rescue an innings that had stalled following a fast start.

Spirit were soon in trouble in the chase as Fire seamer Grace Potts removed the top three inside the powerplay, taking two in two balls to dismiss Grace Harris and Marie Kelly.

Skipper Charlie Dean helped get her side back into the game as she shared useful partnerships with Charis Pavely and then Nadine de Klerk but when Dean fell for 27, Spirit were 75-6 and struggling.

Fire were in control but while Deandra Dottin remained, Spirit had hope.

The big-hitting West Indian was left too much to do, though, and when she was dismissed with five balls remaining, any lingering doubt over the outcome evaporated.

Fire end their campaign fifth in the table with Spirit sixth.

Sports

Fire finish on a high with win over Spirit

Published

10 minutes ago

August 12, 2026

qasimgillani

Georgia Wareham hits her first half-century of the campaign to give Welsh Fire a 15-run win over London Spirit in their final game of the Women’s Hundred.