FC Barcelona set to enter League of Legends esports to rival Ibai & Pique’s team

Spanish football giants Barcelona will join reportedly League of Legends’ Superliga in 2022 after purchasing the spot of S2V Esports. The move follows the recent announcement that streamer Ibai Llanos and Barcelona player Gerard Piqué will also field a team in Superliga next year. 

Barcelona may well have become the latest football club to venture onto the Rift, having reportedly secured a place in Spain’s Superliga.

According to an initial report by Spanish outlet 2Playbook, Barcelona beat out bids from fellow La Liga side Sevilla FC and esports org Case eSports to acquire the slot currently occupied by S2V Esports.

This is the latest shake-up of the Spanish regional league, as it follows reports that a joint venture headed by streamer Ibai Llanos and Barcelona center-back Gerard Piqué have signed a team to field in Superliga in 2022, after purchasing the slot held by Astralis SB.

Ibai and Gerard Pique announcing their Superliga team
Ibai/Superliga

Barcelona’s potential move into the Superliga follows that of the team owned by Ibai Llanos and Gerard Piqué

Barcelona enters esports

The move is one of Barcelona’s biggest move in the esports industry to date. They opted to compete in KONAMI’s eFootball.Pro league instead of FIFA-based eLaLiga Santander and have also fielded talent in Hearthstone and Rocket League, seeing mixed success.

Barcelona players playing esports
FC Barcelona

Barcelona has previously fielded teams in Rocket League and Heartstone

However, their venture into League of Legends marks a major step for the Spanish club. While they have previously reached an agreement with Tencent to explore League of Legends options in China, 2Playbook’s report states that the deal is “yet to be activated” due to the financial situation at Barcelona.

While there is no word on players or staff for the team, 2Playbook report that Barcelona have already signed a coach to lead the team.

Barcelona will face their

Read More

Ronald Koeman sacked by Barcelona | Football News

Ronald Koeman has been sacked as head coach of Barcelona after 14 months in charge.

After weeks of speculation, Koeman’s final game was the 1-0 defeat by Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Wednesday night, their fourth defeat in six games in all competitions.

A brief statement was released on the club’s website confirming president Joan Laporta had relieved the Dutchman of his duties as first-team coach.

It added: “Ronald Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva.

“FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the club and wishes him all the best in his professional career.”

Pressure had been building on the Dutchman since a 3-0 defeat at Benfica in late September, which made this season the club’s worst-ever start to a Champions League campaign.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The Early Kick-Off panel believe Barcelona’s decision to sack Ronald Koeman as head coach is ‘no massive surprise’

They succumbed to a 2-0 away loss to Atletico Madrid in La Liga on October 2, with former forward Luis Suarez scoring the second goal at the Metropolitano Stadium, and they trail league frontrunners Real Madrid by six points in the table.

Their 2-1 loss to Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on October 24 was Koeman’s third El Clasico defeat in a row, and after the final whistle, the Barcelona boss was targeted by a crowd of fans who attacked his car as he tried to drive away from the stadium.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman’s car was mobbed by supporters after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico at the Nou Camp

After the defeat on Wednesday, Koeman said: “It [Barcelona’s league position] says

Read More