La Liga fixtures set for timings change

Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2012 by ESPN

This season's third round of La Liga fixtures will be staggered over 10 different kick-off times, the Liga de Futbol Profesional (LFP) have announced.

Four matches will take place on Saturday, September 1, with five more the following day and Real Betis hosting Atletico Madrid on Monday, September 3.

The weekend kicks off with Celta Vigo taking on Osasuna at 1600 local time (1500BST) on Saturday, followed by Real Zaragoza vs Malaga, Deportivo La Coruna vs Getafe and then Real Mallorca vs Real Sociedad, kicking off at two-hour intervals.

Sevilla travel to Rayo Vallecano for an 1100BST kick-off to begin Sunday's action, with Athletic Bilbao facing Real Valladolid at 1500BST and Levante against Espanyol two hours later.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are in action at home later that evening, with Granada at the Bernabeu for an 1850BST kick-off and Valencia the visitors at the Nou Camp at 2030BST.

Monday's clash at the Estadio Benito Villamarin gets under way at 2030 BST.

The Primera Division schedule has already proved controversial this season, with widespread opposition to the new 11pm (2200BST) kick-off time for some games.

Manuel Pellegrini today claimed his Malaga side have been treated unfairly after they were allocated that slot for Saturday's home game against Mallorca, ahead of Tuesday's Champions League play-off clash with Panathinaikos.

"Unfortunately, the schedule is so strange to us because of television," he said.
"We play on Saturday at 2300 hours, will end at 1:30am and on Tuesday we play in the Champions League.

"Recovery is more complicated, let's see if another Champions League team plays at 2300 on a Saturday, 48 hours before playing in the Champions League. We'll see if Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia have the same treatment and play at that time.

"I do not think there is any intent to harm Malaga, I just think unfortunately they did not take account of the Champions League game. The four teams are representing Spain and I think we must all have the same conditions."