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 set 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 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."
???? Another BIG date for your diary!
???? @FCBarcelona
???? Saturday, December 23
? 13:00 CET
???? Santiago Bernabéu
???? LaLiga
#? #RMClasico pic.twitter.com/Xxa3mP0mXe
— Real Madrid C.F.???????? (@realmadriden) November 2, 2017
Recent events in Spain mean there is likely to be even more attention than usual on December's Clasico.
Barca have vocally supported the right for the people to be allowed to vote in an official referendum on Catalonia's future and played a league match behind closed doors earlier this season to "send a message" to the world about the ongoing political situation.
Although recent games such as Atletico Madrid hosting Barcelona on Oct. 14 and Real Madrid travelling to Catalan side Girona on Oct. 29 passed off without any problems among fans even amid sensational political developments.
Madrid were due to visit neighbours Leganes on the weekend of Dec. 16/17, but their trip to the Club World Cup means that fixture will be played later in the season, with the date dependent on the teams' progress in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
Dermot Corrigan is a Madrid-based football writer who covers La Liga and the Spain national team for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @dermotmcorrigan
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Source: espn.co.uk