The fixture list for next season's La Liga has been announced and with them the dates for the two El Classico matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Spanish giants will meet first on 27 October, 2013, at the Nou Camp (10 game of the season). The meeting at Real Madrid's stadium, the Santiago Bernebeu, will be on 23 March, 2014 (29 game of the season).
Recently-appointed Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will be encouraged by hosting Barcelona so late in the season, as home field advantage maybe crucial in securing a win that could decide the championship.
The weekend of 26-27 October, 2013, also plays host to Chelsea vs Manchester City in the Premier League, while 22-23 March, 2014, sees Chelsea take on Arsenal. On those weekends, football fans will be able to enjoy top of the table clashes in both the Spanish and English leagues.
The Madrid derby between Real and Atletico Madrid is scheduled to take place on 29 September at the Bernebeu and 2 March at the Vicente Calderon. Barcelona's derby games against Espanyol will be played on 3 November, 2013, and 30 March, 2014.
Barcelona take on last season's third placed Atletico Madrid on 1 December, 2013, at the Vicente Calderon and on the last day of the season, 5 May, 2014, at the Camp Nou. With Atletico defeating Real in the Copa del Rey final last season, they play Barcelona in the annual Super Copa which pits league winners against cup winners. Those games are scheduled for 21 August and 28 August, 2013, with the first leg in Madrid.
The league season begins on the weekend of 17-18 August, 2013. Barcelona open their defense of the title against Levante at home, while Real Madrid play Seville based Real Betis on the opening day. Atletico will travel to Seville to take on Sevilla in the opening weekend.
