Field of dreams: LaLiga players to battle it out in charity esports clash this weekend

March 20 – Spanish players will be in action this weekend but it will be in the virtual world of esports rather than the physical world of LaLiga.

19 LaLiga Santander players will take part in a new eSports tournament – #LaLigaSantanderChallenge – in an initiative begun by Spanish video game influencer Ibai Llanos, and which has the backing of LaLiga and its title sponsor Santander.

The competition format features a series of ties that will be decided in best-of-one games played over 18 minutes (2, nine-minute halves).

The competition opened last night with the staging of the draw which drew an audiences of more than 65,000.

The tournament will be streamed via the official @LaLiga Facebook and Twitter accounts, as per a normal LaLiga matchday, as well as on the @esportsLaLiga Twitter account and at @eLaLiga on Instagram, YouTube and Twitch. Other distribution will be on LaLigaSportsTV; Movistar+ will broadcast the tournament on MOVISTAR DEPORTES 1, Channel 54 (available in Spain only); while Movistar #Vamos news bulletins will offer live link-ups.

Planned as a charity event, fans will be able to make donations during the matches to UNICEF during the tournament to help raise funds to tackle the global health crisis.

The last-16 draw in full:

CA Osasuna v CD Leganes or R. Valladolid CF

Sevilla FC v Athletic Club

Levante UD v D. Alaves or RC Celta

Real Sociedad v Atletico Madrid

FC Barcelona v RCD Espanyol or SD Eibar

Getafe CF v Real Betis

Villarreal CF v Valencia CF

Granada CF v Real Madrid