What happened: La Liga's newly released 2026/27 calendar sets the two Barcelona vs Real Madrid meetings for matchdays 10 and 35. The first is scheduled for the weekend of October 25 at the Camp Nou, with the return leg on May 9 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Why it matters: The May 9 return arrives in the closing stretch of the season and, depending on the standings, could swing the title race. It also frames Jose Mourinho's first La Liga Clasico since returning to Real Madrid, against a Barcelona side that has controlled the rivalry under Hansi Flick.

What to watch: Attention now turns to how both squads shape up in the summer window ahead of the October 25 opener, with Mourinho's rebuild at Madrid the season's early subplot.