The Spanish League (LFP) have announced the kick-off times for the first three rounds of fixtures to begin the 2012-13 season.
Amazingly, three of the games on the opening weekend will commence at 11pm (local time) and consequently run over into the following day, with start times having once again been staggered to accommodate live television coverage.
The late starts are also due to the intense August heat in Spain and the fact the La Liga season will begin earlier than usual next term.
Only two matches will start simultaneously, at 7pm on Sunday, while three have been scheduled for Monday night.
The LFP has also decided upon the second and third round timetable, with the latter including the first early start of the new campaign when Rayo Vallecano take on Sevilla at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas, kick-off midday.
The full list of fixtures and kick-offs (UK time) is:
WEEK 1
Saturday, August 18
18.00 Celta – Malaga
20.00 Sevilla – Getafe
22:00 Mallorca – Espanyol
Sunday, August 19
18:00 Athletic Bilbao – Betis
18:00 Real Madrid – Valencia
20:00 Barcelona – Real Sociedad
22:00 Levante – Atletico Madrid
Monday, August 20
18:00 Deportivo – Osasuna
20:00 Rayo Vallecano – Granada
22:00 Zaragoza – Valladolid
WEEK 2
Saturday, August 25
18:00 Real Sociedad – Celta
20:00 Betis – Rayo Vallecano
20:00 Espanyol – Zaragoza
22:00 Malaga – Mallorca
Sunday, August 26
18:00 Osasuna – Barcelona
18:00 Getafe – Real Madrid
20:00 Granada – Sevilla
22:00 Valencia – Deportivo
Monday, August 27
19:00 Valladolid – Levante
21:00 Atletico Madrid – Athletic Bilbao
WEEK 3
Saturday, September 1
17:00 Zaragoza – Malaga
17:00 Celta – Osasuna
19:00 Deportivo – Getafe
21:00 Mallorca – Real Sociedad
Sunday, September 2
11:00 Rayo Vallecano – Sevilla
15:00 Athletic Bilbao – Valladolid
17:00 Levante – Espanyol
19:00 Barcelona – Valencia
21:00 Real Madrid – Granada
Monday, September 3
20:00 Betis – Atletico Madrid
