MIAMI _ The Spanish soccer royalty _ Real Madrid and FC Barcelona _ arrive in Miami on Thursday and begin preparations for Saturday's El Clasico match at Hard Rock Stadium. Both teams are flying in from California, where they had International Champions Cup matches Wednesday night.
Barcelona players, coaches and officials are scheduled to arrive in Miami around 2 p.m. and check into the East Hotel at Brickell City Centre. Real Madrid is due to check into the Mandarin Oriental Hotel downtown late Thursday night. Security will be tight around both hotels.
The status of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo for Saturday's game remains unknown. He is on extended vacation, fulfilling commercial obligations and not did not travel with the team for their first two ICC matches. El Clasico Miami organizers remained hopeful on Wednesday that Ronaldo would make it to Miami by Saturday.
At noon Friday, the entire FC Barcelona team is scheduled to appear at the Casa Clasico fanfest at Bayfront Park. Admission is free.
Both teams will hold ticketed training sessions at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday night _ Barcelona from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Real Madrid from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20 to $30 and are available at www.ElClasicoMiami.com
Also on Friday, fans of Spain's La Liga can watch a collection of league legends in a 3 p.m. exhibition match at Bayfront Park. The event is part of Casa Clasico.
Among the players scheduled to participate: Carles Puyol (FC Barcelona); Koke Contreras (Real Madrid CF); Cesar Sanchez (Real Madrid CF); Fernando Sanz (Real Madrid CF); Christian Karembeu (Real Madrid CF); Patrick Kluivert (FC Barcelona); Fernando Hierro (Real Madrid CF); Gaizka Mendieta (FC Barcelona); Marcos Senna (Villarreal CF); Ludovic Giuly (FC Barcelona); Fernando Morientes (Real Madrid CF); and Julio Baptista (Real Madrid CF).
