Ahead of the upcoming season, La Liga has revealed the fixture list more than three weeks before the 2018/19 campaign kick starts. Matchday 1 is scheduled for August 18 and 19, with reigning champion Barcelona beginning their title defense against Deportivo Alaves.
The Blaugrana may have come short in Europe, but it Spain they reigned supreme. The Camp Nou will be the venue for the tie. As for the always entertain Clasico encounter, the Catalan giant will host Real Madrid first before traveling to the Bernabeu for their second encounter.
#LaLigaSantander gets underway the weekend of August 18-19. Here are the fixtures for the first Matchday! pic.twitter.com/lMnH7r8AzI
— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) July 24, 2018
Fans won't have to wait too long for the first encounter, as it will come on Matchday 10 on October 27-28. The Madrid tie will then be played on March 2-3 on Matchday 26, meaning it might not be a title decider as in previous seasons.
Los Blancos' first game of the season is also a home game, as they will welcome Getafe to the Bernabeu. Julen Lopetegui is the man in charge and he will be hopeful of a better Spanish top-flight showing than last term despite losing talisman attacker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Atletico Madrid faces the trickiest opening day tie from the top three as they will lock horns with Valencia at the Mestalla. The Madrid Derby between Simeone's side and the Champions League holder will take place on September 29-30 at the Bernabeu before facing off at the Wanda Metropolitano on February 9-10.
