The date and time for the El Clasico at Camp Nou has been confirmed by the head of Liga de Fútbol Profesional.
El Clasico is one of, if not, the biggest game(s) in club football, and is the first match that Barcelona and Real Madrid fans look for when the fixture list is released. In an interview with El Transistor programme on Onda Cero, Javier Tebas confirmed that the first El Clasico of the season at Camp Nou would be on the 28th October at 16:15pm local time.
It comes at the end of a tough spell of games for Barcelona because they come back from the October international break and play Sevilla, Inter Milan and Real Madrid within eight days, although all three games are at home, which is a major bonus. The schedule continues its intensity after that game, even if the games are easier, because they have a midweek Copa del Rey match, Rayo Vallecano away, Inter Milan away and Real Betis at home before another international break.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have a much nicer schedule because they play Levante and Viktoria Plzen in the week before, and Valladolid, Plzen and Celta Vigo in the immediate period afterwards. However, Barcelona players such as Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and potentially Jordi Alba won’t be involved internationally, so those international breaks act as much-needed breathers. This is key for Barca because they should have a fully fit Messi at their disposal for the key week of games which ends with El Clasico.
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The reverse fixture is currently scheduled for the 3rd March at the Santiago Bernabeu, although that is still subject to change. It’s surrounded by similar games for both teams, but the two sides could have Champions League Round of 16 second leg matches immediately afterwards. Therefore, neither game comes at an ideal time for Barcelona. Last season, both sides benefitted from the matches being in late December and early May when the schedule isn’t as hectic.
Ernesto Valverde will have to address his rotation issues if he is to be successful in these matches because last season he overworked his first XI, which led to the disastrous exit in the Champions League quarter-finals at the hands of Roma. There is no excuse this time around because he has a much stronger squad at his disposal.
Los Blancos have the advantage of playing the second leg at home as it swaps around every year; this is important for the title race which is likely to be tightly contested at that point, so having home advantage is an additional bonus at a crucial period of the season.