La Liga fixtures: Fans forced to wait until December for El Clasico as Real Madrid and Barcelona prepare for battle

Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet on the first weekend of December before the return fixture in the final week of April

Real Madrid and Barcelona will have to wait until December for the first El Clasico of the season (Getty)

Barcelona and Real Madrid will face one another in the first Clasico of 2016-17 at the Nou Camp in early December, with the return LaLiga fixture to be played at the Bernabeu in late April.

The fixtures for the new campaign were announced on Friday, with Spain's big two likely to fight it out again for the title along with Atletico Madrid.

Reigning champions Barca face Real Betis at home on the opening weekend of the season on August 20-21.

Meanwhile, last season's runners-up Real Madrid are away to Real Sociedad in the first round of matches.

The 2015-16 top two are subsequently scheduled to go head-to-head at the Nou Camp on December 3 or 4, with the reverse fixture then taking place on April 23 in the 33rd matchday out of 38.

The final round of games, pencilled in for May 21, will see Barcelona host Eibar and Real Madrid play at Malaga.

Luis Enrique's Barca are looking to claim a third straight La Liga title, while reigning European champions Real are aiming to claim the trophy for the first time since 2011-12.

PA