LaLiga Releases Official Schedule for Upcoming Season
Real Madrid will kick off their defense of the La Liga title against Mallorca at Son Moix, following the schedule draw for the 2024/25 season held at the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). Meanwhile, their eternal rivals Barcelona will begin the campaign at Mestalla against Valencia.
The draw was conducted in the presence of RFEF President Pedro Rocha, La Liga President Javier Tebas, and Liga F President Beatriz Álvarez. The 'innocent hands' involved in the draw included former players Diego López and Diego Capel, referee Javier Alberola Rojas, and internationals Dani Vivian and Jesús Navas, the latter participating from the national team's camp in Germany. The chosen schedule was number 93,563, which set up these starting fixtures for the two main title contenders.
Elsewhere, Girona, who finished third last season, will start at Benito Villamarín against Betis, and Atlético Madrid, who finished fourth, will play at La Cerámica against Villarreal. These matchups highlight the opening weekend set for August 16-18.
Valladolid, one of the newly promoted teams, will face the winner of the promotion playoff between Oviedo and Espanyol, while Leganés will rejoin the elite in El Sadar against Osasuna.
In the first leg of the promotion final at Carlos Tartiere stadium, Oviedo won 1-0 with a goal from Brazilian player Alemao in the 71st minute. The return leg will be played in Barcelona on Sunday at 18:30.
The 2024/25 season, ending on May 25 in the top division, will begin almost seamlessly within the packed calendar. The Paris Olympics will conclude on Saturday, August 10, with the final at Parc des Princes. Real Madrid will play against Atalanta in the Super Cup on Wednesday, August 14, at the National Stadium in Warsaw.
The schedule has been asymmetrical since the 2019-2020 season, meaning no two matchdays are identical. La Liga and the RFEF ensure that this model addresses a greater number of security conditions, European competitions, club commitments, construction, festivals, events, and happenings, thus maximizing stadium attendance and broadcast viewership.
The first league Clasico will be on Matchday 11, October 27, at Santiago Bernabéu, with Real Madrid visiting Barcelona on Matchday 35, May 11.
The current champions will face their first major derby on Matchday 8, September 29, at Wanda Metropolitano against Atlético Madrid, who will visit Bernabéu on Matchday 23, February 9.
The first chapter of the Seville derby will be at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Matchday 9, October 6, with Sevilla visiting Betis on Matchday 29, March 30. Athletic Bilbao will host Real Sociedad on Matchday 14, November 24, with the Basque derby at Reale Arena on Matchday 34, May 4.
The upcoming season will have five FIFA windows: September 2-10, October 7-15, November 11-19, March 17-25, and June 2-10 in 2025.
La Liga EA Sports will feature four midweek matchdays, and La Liga Hypermotion will have two. There will be a Christmas break from December 22 to the weekend of January 12.
-- First Matchday:
Mallorca-Real Madrid
Villarreal-Atlético Madrid
Valencia-Barcelona
-- 38th and Final Matchday:
Athletic-Barcelona
Real Madrid-Real Sociedad
Girona-Atlético Madrid
