The game between Villarreal and Real Madrid corresponding to round 17 of the La Liga calendar has been put back until January 3.
The clash at the Estadio de la Ceramica, which will be the first Primera game of 2019, was originally scheduled for December 22 this year but has been put back due to Madrid’s participation in the Club World Cup.
This is a variation on previous seasons where the Spanish league champions made up the outstanding fixture in mid-February, when there was a break in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Under a collective agreement signed between La Liga and the Spanish Footballers Association, it has not been possible recently to schedule matches between December 23 and January 2, in respect to the players’ holidays.
However, next season there will be three top-flight games and some La Liga 123 matches on Sunday, December 23.
