Real Madrid – Barcelona El Clásico date and time confirmed: all the details – AS USA
It’s official: Real Madrid-Barcelona in LaLiga will be played on Sunday, April 21, at 21:00 local time (3pm ET / 12pm PT).
This has been confirmed by LaLiga, putting an end to the big debate surrounding the kick-off time. The day was an open secret: since the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals would be played in the same week, the game would inevitably be moved to Sunday, but there was some doubt as to whether it would be during the day or at night. Now it is known that the biggest game in Spain, Europe and possibly the world will close out the match day at the end of April.
Unless Madrid change their mind at the last minute, it will be the first Clásico in history to be played with the Bernabéu roof closed, since in LaLiga the club have the power to choose whether to close the roof or not.
Real Madrid recognise that a closed roof generates improved acoustics, but without as of yet it’s not known what the team prefers.
Three Clásicos in two weeks?
That match will be played days after the Champions League semi-finalists become known: once the draw is finalised next week (March 15) the pathway to the final will be announced. In that case, both Madrid and Barcelona, if they are still alive in the competition, will know who they will face. Moreover, if they meet in the Champions League quarter-finals (Barça still have to beat Napoli), there would be three Clásicos in two weeks.
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The big question is what state the two teams will arrive in for El Clásico. Real Madrid hold the lead in the standings and, at the moment, are 5 points ahead of Barcelona. If Los Blancos beat Celta tomorrow (1:30pm ET / 10:30am PT), they will return to normality with four matchdays to go: 8 points difference.
In between, Ancelotti’s men must visit Osasuna, host Athletic and fly to Mallorca. For their part, Barcelona have to go to the Metropolitano, host Las Palmas and travel to Cádiz.
Real Madrid and Barcelona’s upcoming fixtures:
| Real Madrid | FC Barcelona |
|---|---|
| Celta (H) | Napoli (H) |
| Osasuna (A) | Atlético (A) |
| Athletic (H) | Las Palmas (H) |
| Champions League 1/4 final 1st leg | Champions League 1/4 final 1st leg ? |
| Mallorca (A) | Cádiz (A) |
| Champions League 1/4 final 2nd leg | Champions League 1/4 final 2nd leg ? |
| Clásico (H) | Clásico (A) |
The last time they met was in Riyadh and the match ended in a 4-1 win for Madrid. However, looking at the last game in LaLiga, the two sides met on match day 11 (October 28, 2023) and Ancelotti’s men also won (1-2), with a brace from Bellingham.
This will be Madrid’s first Clásico at home this season. Barcelona have not won at the Bernabéu in La Liga since that emblematic 0-4, with Modric playing as a false nine and Madrid wearing black.
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