The first-leg of the 2014/15 season’s El Classico will be played at the home of Real Madrid, a day after new Barcelona striker Luis Suarez’s biting ban expires.
The first leg of the Super Cup- the Spanish League season opening tie between the League champions and the Cup winners from the previous campaign- comes up on August 19 at the Estadio Santiago Bernebeu, with the return leg scheduled for next three days.
Suarez’s four-month ban from all football-related activities for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup ends on October 25, placing the Uruguayan striker in contention for his Barcelona debut at the home of the European champions on October 26.
There is, however, the prospect for fixture change, should TV broadcast time call for a fixture shift.
Real themselves tweeted that the match between both of the Spanish League’s top outfits will take place on October 25 or 26 at the Bernabéu.
Should it be moved to the day before, Suarez will not be in contention for selection.
The second El-Clasico of the season comes up on March 22, at which point the former Liverpool striker who penned a five-year deal worth £75m with the Catalan giants would have featured in a number of games for his new club- including La Liga champions Atletico Madrid’s visit to the Nu Camp on January 11, 2015.
Both clubs have already recruited a number of highly-sought-after prospects this summer. There is the possibility of having a Cristiano Ronaldo- Gareth Bale- James Rodriguez forward line against a Lionel Messi- Neymar- Suarez attack in either of the Clasicos.
The Madrid derby, a repeat of last season’s European Champions League final, will be another hotly-contested fixture of the new Spanish Primera season.
Atletico visits the Bernebeu on September 14, with the return leg at the Vicente Calderon scheduled for February 8.
Barcelona’s penultimate league game of the new season is expected to be the visit to coach Diego Simeone’s Atleti home before facing Deportivi in their final game of the season.
The Copa del Rey, won by the ‘Los Blancos’ last season is slated for May 30.
Meanwhile, Barca starts their campaign at home to Elche, while Real will also be at home against newly-promoted Cordoba.
