Barcelona SC battles on‑field slip and internal crisis in Ecuador

Barcelona Sporting Club drew 1‑1 with Leones FC in the penultimate round of Ecuador's Serie A, leaving the Guayaquil side three points shy of the six‑team liguilla that decides the title and a Copa Libertadores berth. The result, combined with Independiente del Valle's win, kept Barcelona in fifth place with 35 points, but a loss or a rival victory in the final round could see the club fall out of the qualifying zone.

Off the pitch, Barcelona SC is mired in a deep institutional crisis. With club president Antonio Álvarez absent from public duties, Venezuelan coach César Farías has assumed the role of de facto president, addressing sporting, financial and administrative matters. Attendance has plummeted to around 10,000 at the Monumental stadium, and the club faces a reported four‑million‑dollar loan tied to Álvarez. The dual pressure of poor results and governance turmoil has heightened fan frustration and uncertainty about the club's future.