La Liga announces 2015/16 fixtures, Real Madrid host Barcelona in November
Tuesday 14 July 2015 15:38, UK
Rafael Benitez will take charge of his first El Clasico on the 7th or 8th of November, after La Liga announced their fixtures for the upcoming season.
Always highly charged affairs, the return fixture is scheduled for the first weekend in April.
Benitez, appointed in June to succeed Carlo Ancelotti, will be tasked with topping Luis Enrique's treble-winners Barcelona.
Considering Real have been crowned domestic champions just once in the last seven seasons, Benitez faces quite the challenge to wrestle La Liga back from their main rivals.
In last season's clashes, both sides won a game each. Real Madrid came from a goal down to win 3-1 at the Bernabeu.
The return fixture in March went a long way to deciding the destination of the La Liga title. Barcelona won 2-1, thanks to a winner from Luis Suarez, and opened up a four-point gap at the top of the table.
Enrique's men face a tough looking opening fixture, travelling to take on Athletic Bilbao. The clash against Bilbao will be Barcelona's third in a week against the Basque outfit, following the two-legged Super Cup.
Elsewhere on the opening day, Real Madrid play newly-promoted Sporting Gijón and Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid take on Las Palmas. Phil Neville, newly appointed as assistant manager at Valencia, sees his side play Rayo Vallecano.
The season's final round of games sees both Real Madrid and Barcelona on their travels. Barcelona play Granada, while Real Madrid end their campaign against Deportivo at the Riazor.
El Clasico fixtures:
Real Madrid v Barcelona (week 12)
Barcelona v Real Madrid (week 31)
Opening day fixtures:
Athletic Club v Barcelona
Malaga v Sevilla
Levante v Celta Vigo
Sporting Gijon v Real Madrid
Rayo Vallecano v Valencia
Espanyol v Getafe
Deportivo v Real Sociedad
Granada v Eibar
Real Betis v Villarreal
Atletico Madrid v Las Palmas
Final day fixtures:
Valencia v Real Sociedad
Deportivo v Real Madrid
Sporting v Villarreal
Real Betis v Getafe
Espanyol v Eibar
Granada v FC Barcelona
Athletic v Sevilla
Málaga v Las Palmas
Atlético v Celta
Rayo v Levante
