El Clasico can be played in a normal atmosphere in Barcelona - Valverde

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BARCELONA, SPAIN (OCTOBER 17, 2019) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, ERNESTO VALVERDE, SAYING:

"Too many circumstances are being anticipated, there are nine days left before that match. It's clear things this week in Barcelona are a bit strange but there is still time and we trust ourselves, our people and to be able to play that match in our stadium which is what we want."

2. BARCELONA PLAYERS TRAINING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BARCELONA COACH, ERNESTO VALVERDE, SAYING:

"Everyone is watching those images (of violent protests) and thinking they will be transferred to that match. We don't know. It doesn't have to be that way. We have the opportunity to show a lot of things, that that match can perfectly take place and that we respect our opponent. Within basic norms of civility it can work and we can demonstrate it to everyone, it's an important match for people to watch but it's an opportunity to show the match can be held in totally normal circumstances and eliminate the thought that it can't. At the stadium people say whatever they say, evidently they will want to win as will Real Madrid, but this will happen in a natural manner."

STORY: Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde has called on Spanish football authorities not to suspend or move their Clasico meeting with Real Madrid out of respect for the fans, following protests and demonstrations in Catalonia.

La Liga, Spain's top football division, has requested the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) move or postpone the Oct. 26 match amid ongoing vioent protests in Catalonia over the jailing of nine Catalan separatist leaders.

Valverde, however, believes the match should go ahead as planned and that it would be an opportunity to show that one needs to respect one's opponent and a "civil match" can be played under "normal circumstances".

There have been protests and violent clashes with police throughout the region this week in the wake of Spain's decision to jail nine Catalan separatist leaders for their part in an illegal referendum on independence in 2017.

(Production: Jordi Rubio)