MADRID, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The calendar for the 2017-18 season in Spain's Liga Santander was confirmed on Friday just a month before the new season is due to kick off.
The opening round of matches sees league champions Real Madrid start the defense of their crown away to Deportivo la Coruna, while FC Barcelona are at home to Betis and Atletico Madrid, who last season finished third, travel to Girona to be the newly promoted side's first ever rivals in the top-flight.
The other newly promoted sides: Levante and Getafe both have difficult opening day fixtures as they face Villarreal and Athletic Club Bilbao respectively.
There is some controversy already over the timing of the two 'Clasico' between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona as the first meeting between the two sides is scheduled for December 20th in the Santiago Bernabeu, just four days after Real Madrid could play in the final of the World Club Championship.
The return leg will be played in Barcelona a week before the end of the season, which kicks off on the weekend of August 20th and finishes on May 20, 2018.
The draw was held at the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) 24 hours behind schedule following the arrest of RFEF President, Angel Maria Villar, his son, Gorka and RFEF economic Vice-President Juan Padron as part of an anti-corruption operation on Tuesday.
