Protestors from the Catalan separatist movement, Democratic Tsunami, have called for a “massive” protest outside Nou Camp, where Barcelona are due to play against Real Madrid in La Liga on Dec 18.

Spain’s most prestigious fixture was originally scheduled for Oct 26 but had to be postponed following a wave of pro-independence demonstrations in the city.

“I can say that the Clasico will be played, it will not be postponed again,” Bartomeu said at a Christmas press event in Barcelona.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure it goes ahead. We know that we live in a complicated period in Catalonia but that can be compatible with sport.

“Our stadium is a place for free expression, it always has been, and that is why we want to send out a message of normality and calm.

“The club is preparing for the Clasico with complete normality and we tell our fans to come with their family and friends.

“Together we have to deliver a Clasico that is a celebration of sport and of people. We want peace and calm.”

Democratic Tsunami have urged protestors to gather at four points around Nou Camp from 4pm, four hours before kick-off.

“In an exceptional situation, we should act in an exceptional way,” said a statement from the group on Tuesday.

The rally is the latest in a series of demonstrations that began two months ago when Spain’s top court jailed nine Catalan separatist leaders over their role in a failed 2017 bid for independence.

Police to be deployed

Some 3,000 police officers and private security agents will be deployed for the game local officials said.

Police “will guarantee that the match goes ahead, fan access to the stadium and security both on and off the pitch,” the Catalan interior affairs chief, Miquel Buch, told a news conference.

Around 1,000 officers from Catalonia’s regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, will be deployed along with 2,000 agents from other police forces and private security agencies, Mossos chief commissioner Eugeni Sallent added.

The deployment is usual for matches deemed “high risk” but this time it was boosted by “hundreds” of extra agents both inside and outside the statement because of the call to protest by Democratic Tsunami, he added.

The agents will guard the vicinity of Camp Nou beginning on Wednesday morning to ensure the teams, referees and fans can enter the stadium without problems.

They will also cordon off the area to ensure demonstrators cannot get close to the stadium.

“One of the most complex scenarios would be an invasion of the pitch. It is an extreme situation which in principle we don’t contemplate as being probable, but it is possible,” said Sallent.

If a pitch invasion were to take place then Barcelona, who are responsible for security inside the stadium, could face hefty fines and be ordered to stage future matches behind closed doors.

Barca have long been associated with Catalan independence.

The club’s fans often wave the yellow and red striped Catalan independence flag and hold up banners at Nou Camp proclaiming in English that “Catalonia is not Spain”.

Real, on the other hand, are associated by many Catalans with the perceived centralising force of the Spanish government in Madrid.