Classico the main course on extended Matchday 17 in Spain

MADRID, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- There is no break between the 16th and the 17th round of matches in the Spanish Liga Santander with a fixture lists that runs up to December 23rd.

The Spanish LaLiga has clearly set the 'Classico' between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona up to be the main course of the week, with the game between the traditional rivals scheduled to be played at 13.00 hours on Saturday.

That has prompted accusations they are thinking about the TV audience overseas, especially in the Middle East and Asia where the game will be seen on 'prime-time' TV, rather than Spanish fans, many of whom will be in the middle of their trips home for the Christmas holidays.

That should not take away from the importance of a game that Real Madrid quite simply have to win given that they are currently 11 points behind Barca (all be it with a game in hand). If Barca emerge triumphant from the Bernabeu, Real Madrid would be virtually out of the title race with an enormous 14-point gap to make up.

However, it would be an enormous error to focus just on Real Madrid as a rival to Barcelona given that Atletico Madrid will travel to face a disappointing Espanyol just six points behind Barca.

A win for Atletico, who are unbeaten all season and who have not lost away from home in all of 2017, would take them to within three points of Barcelona and increase the pressure on the Catalans in the 'Classico'.

Atletico will welcome Diego Costa and Vitolo into their squad in January and that should increase their attacking punch ahead of the second half of the season.

Third place Valencia have slipped with two consecutive away defeats, but welcome Simone Zaza back into their side for their derby at home to Villarreal on Saturday afternoon.

The round of matches kicks off on Tuesday as Levante, who struggle at home, entertain Leganes, whose weekend match against Real Madrid was postponed as Madrid played in the World Club Championship.

Real Sociedad entertain Sevilla on Wednesday with both sides looking to recover positive sensations ahead of the New Year. The game will be Carlos Vela's 250th and last game for Real Sociedad as before he joins Los Angeles Galaxy in January.

Wednesday also sees Getafe take on struggling Las Palmas, whose president on Tuesday confirmed the club will have a new coach (their fourth of the season) after the Christmas break.

There is a battle in the relegation zone as Alaves entertain Malaga on Thursday, while Eibar and Girona (who have the best record for any side playing its first season in the Primera Liga) go head to head in the Ipurua Stadium.

Betis and Athletic Club Bilbao play on Friday, while the round of matches ends on Saturday evening with the Galicia derby between Deportivo al Coruna and Celta Vigo, two sides who are unhappy that they will have the shortest Christmas holidays in LaLiga. Enditem