Overview

• RAC1, via MD and relayed by Football España, reports that Ed Sheeran will appear on Barcelona’s shirt for the first El Clásico of the season, though the club has not announced it officially.
• The match is scheduled for October 26 at 16:15 CEST at the Santiago Bernabéu and will mark Xabi Alonso’s first Clásico as Real Madrid manager.
• Barcelona’s Spotify partnership has previously put artists such as Drake, Rosalía, the Rolling Stones, Karol G, Coldplay and Travis Scott on the shirt in Clásico fixtures.
• Sheeran released his eighth album, Play, on September 12 and is currently touring Europe, giving the reported shirt activation timely promotional value.
• Football España also notes ongoing Camp Nou renovation delays that have shifted some Barça home games to the 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff, with the Spotify stadium naming-rights arrangement reported to be under strain.