LaLiga players & clubs engage in COVID-19 social media banter and activities
From sharing workout routines to recipes, the players are continuing to engage with football fans across Spain and beyond
Spain has now been under coronavirus-related shutdown measures for over a month, yet LaLiga players continue to keep spirits up through their activities online. From sharing workout routines to cooking recipes, they are continuing to engage with football fans across Spain and beyond. Here, we take a look at what exactly they’ve been getting up to this past week.
Banter between rivals
Social media is a great place for banter between rivals and this week has been no different. Real Madrid star Gareth Bale posted a photo remembering his iconic Copa del Rey final winner over Barcelona back in 2014 and his ‘victim’ that day, Marc Bartra – then a Barcelona defender, now at Real Betis – replied asking to be tagged! Nothing like a bit of good humour among players who are rivals on the pitch and friends off it. Especially from Bartra, who’s known for his online banter.
Collecting a unique kind of football sticker
Football cards and stickers have long been a tradition among football fans around the world and Panini have created a rather unique collection recently. Blank versions of the classic stickers have been launched for kids from around the world to colour in, available for download online. Several LaLiga players have been involved in sharing this initiative, with Athletic Club’s Aritz Aduriz, RCD Mallorca’s Salva Sevilla and Real Betis’ Borja Iglesias among those to share their excitement.
Oooooh! Ahora toca ?? con nuestros colores...?⚪⚫? https://t.co/eycyljQ4Tk
— Aritz Aduriz (@AritzAduriz11) April 17, 2020
Reminicing about a special night at Anfield
Atlético de Madrid players and fans are still on a high after their epic Champions League last 16 victory over Liverpool. While over a month may have passed since that famous night at Anfield, double goal scorer Marcos Llorente spent time reminiscing with Spanish TV and Atleti fan David Broncano who won his match shirt at a charity auction to raise funds for the Red Cross.
[??] Big Atleti fan @davidbroncano was the highest bidder in the #CruzRojaResponde charity auction, where he won the shirt that @marcosllorente wore at Anfield ?
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) April 16, 2020
Seems like they had a great time talking about the game ?https://t.co/ZPDUwiTiKR
New TV shows
Three new programmes – LaLiga Nations, LaLiga Clubs and LaLiga StayAtHome – have been launched by LaLiga and the league’s players have been taking part. From Sergi Gómez’s card tricks and Carlos Bacca’s memorabilia to Chimy Ávila’s tales of his inspiring journey, the stars of LaLiga have been appearing on TV sets around the world.
Este sábado tenemos PROGRAMÓN de #LaLigaQuédateEnCasa
— LaLigaSports (@LaLigaSports) April 17, 2020
¿Quieres ver a @gomez_sergi (@SevillaFC) hacer trucos de magia ?✨ como este?
⏰17 horas
?LaLigaSportsTV ?? https://t.co/63KOfXPXKK#QuédateEnCasa pic.twitter.com/8aONbLVNx6
Working out with intensity
As has been the case from day one of the shutdown in Spain, players have been working hard to maintain their fitness levels. Impressive videos continue to be shared by players from around LaLiga, showing off their intensity in their improvised workout areas. Las Palmas player Tana, for one, has stolen the show by sharing a sped-up video of his fitness plan.
Este sábado tenemos PROGRAMÓN de #LaLigaQuédateEnCasa
— LaLigaSports (@LaLigaSports) April 17, 2020
¿Quieres ver a @gomez_sergi (@SevillaFC) hacer trucos de magia ?✨ como este?
⏰17 horas
?LaLigaSportsTV ?? https://t.co/63KOfXPXKK#QuédateEnCasa pic.twitter.com/8aONbLVNx6
Catching up with teammates
Videocalls have become the new way to keep in touch with family, friends and co-workers around the world and LaLiga is no different. Barcelona organised a videocall for their first-team squad and coaches this past week and even shared some details about the meeting online, including an image of all the various players and coaches together.
The Ultimate Video Conference
— FC Barcelona (from ?) (@FCBarcelona) April 15, 2020
Cooking up some tasty dishes
Players around LaLiga have been trying out some new recipes during this period and many of them have been sharing their dishes online. Osasuna’s Rubén García and RC Celta’s Fran Beltrán are among those to have shared their culinary creations over the past month, while this week fans have taken inspiration from Real Sociedad’s women’s team player Maddi Torre and Real Zaragoza’s nutritionist Raúl Luzón who prepared changurro – a crab dish typical in northern Spain – and cupcakes respectively.
?? Hoy para comer... ¡Changurro a la donostiarra!
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) April 16, 2020
?? ¡Hoy cocinamos con @MaddiTorre, jugadora de la @RealSociedad. ¿Te animas a prepararlo en casa? #QuédateEnCasa#EsteVirusLoParamosUnidos pic.twitter.com/mbYXTWwMHr
?? Hoy para comer... ¡Changurro a la donostiarra!
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) April 16, 2020
?? ¡Hoy cocinamos con @MaddiTorre, jugadora de la @RealSociedad. ¿Te animas a prepararlo en casa? #QuédateEnCasa#EsteVirusLoParamosUnidos pic.twitter.com/mbYXTWwMHr
Coming together on cup final weekend
The Copa del Rey final between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club was due to be held on April 18th but was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Although the players from these two Basque teams are staying at home, they came together virtually to share an emotional message of solidarity. In a video featuring stars of both teams, gratitude was shown to the workers on the front line in the fight against the coronavirus and the players looked forward to the day when this historic final will eventually be played.