There was a lot of uncertainty before the game over whether or not it would go ahead amidst tension in Catalonia over the independence referendum, as Barcelona said they would not play the match less than an hour before it was meant to kick off.
Barcelona had requested for the game to be postponed but both the Spanish FA and La Liga said the clash would go ahead, and it was eventually controrversially decided that it would take place behind closed doors.
25 minutes before kick, the club released a statement on their official website, with Bartomeu explaining the club's view on the matter.
He said: "We deeply regret this lack of freedom of expression that is happening today in Catalonia.
“We are worried and very sorry. We decided, instead of cancelling the game, which was what we all wanted, to play it but behind closed doors so that everyone can see that today we play a football game but that has nothing to do with normality.
"We have tried to cancel the match all day with all the institutions, especially with the League, but there was no way.
“Before the refusal of the League to stage the game on another day, and the sanction of six points for the team, we talked to everyone, executives, directors, coaching staff and players and we have decided to play the game but to do it behind closed doors so that the disconformity is seen in front of the world.”
“This has not been done for safety reasons,” Bartomeu added. “The security was guaranteed by the police. The game is played behind closed doors for an exceptional reason, but not security.”