The end of October signals a highly anticipated moment for football fans worldwide – it’s time for El Clásico, the colossal showdown between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Over recent years, this historic fixture has consistently fallen around late October, making it a much-anticipated fixture on the LaLiga calendar.
October: The Ideal Time for El Clásico
The timing of this clash is no coincidence. The late-October scheduling avoids the early-season period when many fans are still away on holidays. Additionally, placing the second meeting toward the end of the season adds just the right amount of suspense to the title race without making it the final decider for LaLiga glory. By spacing these games thoughtfully, fans can enjoy two high-stakes matches without the season being overly influenced by either one.
Last season, the first round of El Clásico took place on matchday 11 at the historic Montjuic Stadium. This year, matchday 11 will again host the season’s first Clásico, but this time at the Santiago Bernabéu. Fans also look forward to seeing the newly renovated Spotify Camp Nou host the second-round clash, bringing a fresh wave of excitement to Barcelona’s home fixture.
LaLiga’s recent move to an asymmetric fixture schedule has given organizers greater flexibility, freeing up the calendar from the constraints of playing the two Clásico matches in the same order. This change has made it easier to schedule the first Clásico of the season at a time that allows fans and players to focus on the game without the pressures of overlapping Champions League fixtures.
In recent years, El Clásico has generally been scheduled around October 24–25, with only a few exceptions. The 2019 fixture was postponed to December due to security concerns, and in 2022, the game was held on October 16 to accommodate the World Cup in Qatar. Last year’s game took place on October 28, further establishing this late October timing as a new tradition.
2024’s First El Clásico – What to Expect
This season’s first El Clásico takes place on October 26, 2024, at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, with a 8:00p.m. kick-off. Fans around the world are gearing up to witness the energy, rivalry, and skill that define this iconic matchup. For both teams, the match promises to be a key moment early in the LaLiga campaign, potentially setting the tone for the season.
