La Liga opening day announced

Real Madrid travel to Real Sociedad, Barcelona host Real Betis and Atletico Madrid welcome new boys Alaves on the 2016-17 La Liga opening day.

The new Primera campaign gets under way on August 20-21 as nine Coaches will be either overseeing their first League match with their new clubs, returning to the Spanish top flight or making their debut in the division.

Other eye-catching games see Eibar visit Deportivo La Coruna, now managed by their former boss Gaizka Garitano and Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla take on Quique Sanchez Flores’ Espanyol in the battle of new eras.

In addition to Alaves, Osasuna’s return to La Liga coincides with a trip down south to Malaga, while debutants Leganes head west to Celta Vigo.

The Clasico dates have also been announced as Madrid and Barca will first lock horns on December 4 at Camp Nou, with the return match in the capital scheduled for April 23.

Opening-day fixtures in full:

Real Sociedad v Real Madrid

Atletico Madrid v Alaves

Sporting Gijon v Athletic Bilbao

Barcelona v Real Betis

Deportivo La Coruna v Eibar

Valencia v Las Palmas

Granada v Villarreal

Sevilla v Espanyol

Malaga v Osasuna

Celta Vigo v Leganes

Image courtesy @LaLiga via Twitter

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