Sporting-Real Madrid, Athletic-FC Barcelona, Rayo-Valencia, Málaga-Sevilla, Levante-Celta, Deportivo-Real Sociedad, Espanyol-Getafe, Granada-Eibar, Beits-Villarreal and Atlético-Las Palmas. That will be the opening weekend of La Liga 2015-16.
Last season’s champions Barcelona and the runners-up in the Copa del Rey, Athletic Club, will be sick of the sight of each other in August owing to the pair also going head-to-head in the Spanish Super Cup, to be held on August 14 and 17. “It’s a difficult start but we also have in mind the qualifying matches for the Europa League,” admitted Josu Urrutia, the president of Athletic. Meanwhile, Madrid prepare for a difficult opener at El Molinón: “There will be a great atmosphere”.
The first Clásico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu on the weekend of November 8 with the return match at the Camp Nou going ahead on the weekend of April 3.
The first Madrid derby between Atlético and Real Madrid will be played at the Vicente Calderón on the weekend of October 4, with the return at the Bernabéu on February 28. Atlético will face Barcelona on September 13, meaning Arda Turan will not be returning to the Calderón with his new club. The match between Barcelona and Atlético at the Camp Nou will be played on the weekend of January 31.