This season the LFP responded to the requests of Real Madrid and Barcelona, to prevent the second league El Clasico being played in April or May – to avoid the encounter clashing with cup competition duties in the calendar, as it has in recent seasons.
A report in the Spanish media today states that both clubs felt that the second league Clasico coinciding with cup games has had a detrimental effect on their teams in recent campaigns, not least when it clashes with Champions League fixtures.
The LFP listened and set the league Clasicos for October and March this campaign, but there are some things that cannot be avoided and even though the changes may have prevented congestion around the Champions League semi-final stage – should both sides progress that far – their recent tie in the Copa del Rey means that they will be facing one another three times in just over a month. On top of that, these three meetings fall between their knockout round ties with Manchester United and Milan in Europe’s elite club cup competition.
Because of this, Real Madrid have asked the LFP and the television broadcaster with the rights to all three El Clasico’s, to make match-day 26’s league meeting between the two a Friday fixture (1st March), which would allow much more time for the players to rest and prepare for the Champions League Last 16 second leg tie with Manchester United on Tuesday 5th March.