Despite trailing Barcelona by eight points in La Liga, Sid Lowe feels Real Madrid will have chances to mount a comeback. With Real Madrid eight points off the pace, the FC crew debate whether they have any chance to catch Barcelona in La Liga.
The first La Liga Clasico of 2017-18 has been confirmed for Saturday, Dec. 23, at the Santiago Bernabeu, two days after contentious elections in Catalonia.
The fixture will be played just before La Liga takes its winter break, and just after Champions League holders' Madrid return from the Club World Cup which takes place in Abu Dhabi between Dec. 6-16.
La Liga president Javier Tebas had previously mentioned the date on Spanish radio, and Madrid confirmed it on Tuesday. The game had originally been scheduled for Dec. 20.
"La Liga have released the kick-off times for the games to be played on match day 17 in the league," a Madrid statement said.
"Real Madrid will take on Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, 23rd of December at 1:00 p.m. CET."
Tebas said in September that the 1 p.m. start time was made with the global television market in mind, particularly so fans in Asia would be able to watch.