Thursday 3 August 2017 21:18, UK
Barcelona and Real Madrid have been scheduled to meet for the first time in December following the release of the 2017/18 La Liga fixtures.
The first El Clasico of the season set to take place at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, December 20, on matchday 17, although that fixture could be moved due to Real's Club World Cup commitments - with the final of that competition set to take place on December 16.
The reverse game at Barcelona is pencilled in for Sunday, May 6 on matchday 36.
Champions Real begin their campaign with a trip to Deportivo La Coruna in the weekend of 18-21 August, while Ernesto Valverde's first Barca league game will be at home to Real Betis.
Atletico Madrid and Villarreal will play their first two league games away from home to give them more time to finish building work on their stadiums, the Spanish league said on Thursday.
"The first two games they shall play away from home whilst conversely the 20th and 21st games they will play at home," La Liga officials said, explaining that minor stadium delivery glitches were the cause.
Atletico are moving into their brand new 70,000 capacity Wanda Metropolitano after quitting the Vicente Calderón, their home for 51 years. Villarreal are finishing off the refurbishment of their main stand.
Week one of the La Liga campaign was decided by a draw, with matchdays two to 38 then automatically generated in accordance with the opening-day pairings pulled out of the hat.
El Clasico fixtures (subject to change)
Real Madrid v Barcelona - Wednesday, December 20
Barcelona v Real Madrid - Sunday, May 6
Opening day La Liga fixtures - to be played August 18-21
Athletic Bilbao v Getafe
Barcelona v Real Betis
Celta Vigo v Real Sociedad
Deportivo La Coruna v Real Madrid
Girona v Atletico Madrid
Leganes v Alaves
Malaga v Eibar
Sevilla v Espanyol
Valencia v Las Palmas
Villarreal v Levante
Sky Sports will show more than 300 La Liga games exclusively live this season, including El Clasico
