Barcelona-Real Madrid El Clasico confirmed for 18 December

The rearranged El Clasico fixture between Barcelona and Real Madrid has been confirmed for Wednesday 18 December.

The match had been scheduled to be played at the Blaugrana’s Camp Nou stadium on 26 October but due to the current volatility of the political situation in Catalonia, La Liga asked that the game be reversed to Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

This request ruled out in favour of a postponement as both clubs had rejected the switch of venue and agreed on a new date.

The Spanish FA, as supported by the clubs, pushed for the date of 18 December but La Liga instead had argued for 7 December, with the Real Madrid-Espanyol and Barcelona-Mallorca matches, scheduled for that weekend, would theoretically be rearranged to be played on Wednesday 4 December instead.

There had been fears that a high-level demonstration could take place and it would be in the best interests of everyone to switch the games for this league campaign.

Last month, Spain's Supreme Court sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in an independence referendum in 2017.

Oriol Junqueras – the former vice-president of Catalonia and the highest-ranking pro-independence leader on trial – was handed the longest sentence of 13 years for sedition and misuse of public funds.

The prosecution had sought up to 25 years in prison for Junqueras but he, alongside the eight others, were cleared of a more serious charge of rebellion.

Following the court's verdict, Catalan independence supporters marched in Barcelona displaying banners that read "free political prisoners" while urging others to "take to the streets".

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La Liga - Club News