Maroan Sannadi’s long-awaited return to Athletic Club’s starting lineup was thwarted Wednesday evening when heavy rainfall forced the postponement of La Liga’s sixth-round fixture against Levante. The Moroccan forward had been selected to lead the Basque side’s attack at Ciutat de València, only for referee inspectors and LaLiga officials to declare the pitch unplayable minutes before the 21:30 kickoff.
Weather halts Sannadi’s comeback bid
Persistent rain swept across the Valencia region, rendering the playing surface unsafe for competition. Both Athletic Club and the officiating team confirmed that pitch conditions fell well short of the standards required for a league match. No rescheduled date has yet been confirmed by LaLiga.
The setback arrives at an inopportune moment for the 25-year-old. Sannadi had earned his first league start of the season after spending the opening weeks deployed primarily from the bench. His previous appearances amounted to roughly thirty minutes against Sevilla in round two and a ten-minute cameo against Elche last weekend—sporadic opportunities as he works toward full match fitness.
Injury layoff complicates Sannadi’s path back to regularity
The forward has endured a testing eighteen-month stretch with injuries. A right-knee meniscus operation last season was followed by a proximal tibiofibular joint problem in his left knee during the summer months. Despite these setbacks, Sannadi made his competitive return in August and has since featured in Athletic’s recent outings, though always in a rotational capacity.
The postponement means he must wait for the rescheduled Levante encounter to gain the extended minutes he requires. However, Athletic’s domestic schedule offers an immediate alternative. The club hosts Deportivo Alavés at San Mamés on Saturday, presenting Sannadi with another pathway to earn meaningful playing time and rebuild the rhythm his injury absences have disrupted.
