MADRID: Spanish champions Barcelona will start their title defence with a home game against Betis while European champions Real Madrid face a tricky away trip to face Real Sociedad.

Atletico Madrid start their campaign at home to newly promoted Deportivo Alaves, according to the fixture calendar for the new Spanish Liga season.

After the season kicks off on August 20-21 Barcelona have a more complicated start to the season as the second week of competition sees them travel to face Athletic Bilbao while Real Madrid are at home to Celta Vigo and Atletico play the first Madrid derby of the season away to promoted Leganes.

Match-day five sees Barca entertain Atletico in what promises to be one of the big games of the season, while the first ‘Clasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be played in Barca’s Camp Nou Stadium on December 3, with the return in the Santiago Bernabeu on either the April 22-23.

The 2016-17 campaign comes to an end of May 21, partly because the players will enjoy a long Christmas break with no games played between December 18 and January 7.

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