FC Barcelona's domestic fixture list was revealed on Friday when the draw for the 2016/17 Spanish League took place in Madrid.
FC Barcelona's Camp Nou Stadium. Photo: Pixabay
With Barcelona one of the world's best known teams many visitors to the city make sure they experience a match at the world famous Camp Nou stadium. But if you are planning to visit Barcelona to see a match be aware that match dates are only fixed a few weeks before they take place. Until a date and time are given weekend matches may be played at any time on Saturday or Sunday.
Barcelona's first match will be played at Camp Nou on the weekend of 21st August against Betis. The season ends on 21st May 2017 with a home match against Eibar.
When Barcelona is winning you'll find a party atmosphere in the stadium with a Mexican waves circulating the stadium time and time again. But even when Barça isn't on peak form note the cheer that goes up when the clock reaches 17:14, commemorating the end of the siege of Barcelona and the defeat of Catalonia by Spain. The fourteen month siege ended on 11th September 1714 and more widely remembered each year on 11th September as La Diada Nacional de Catalunya.
The most passionate displays of support are reserved for the "clasicos" against Real Madrid, their long standing and most bitter rival. This year the clasicos are scheduled for 4rd December at Camp Nou, with the away leg at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on 23rd April 2017. The clasicos are probably the biggest domestic fixture anywhere in the world and tickets for these matches in great demand.
While the league title isn't won or lost on a single match, remember Barcelona only beat Madrid in 2016/17 by a single point. And it was Real Madrid that brought Barça's streak of 39 games undefeated when they visited Camp Nou at the beginning of April. That was the first of three league defeats in a row. In the end though they regained their mojo and performed flawlessly in the league.
Every point gained throughout the year has the potential to win or lose the championship. Just look at how Atletico Madrid fell out of the running with a few matches to go after being in contention for much of the season. Real Madrid only lost their chance at the last hurdle when Barcelona won their last match of the season. It was close.
Other notable matches include Atletico Madrid, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla, with the Barcelona Derby against RCD Espanyol scheduled for 18th December and 30th April at Camp Nou and Estadi Cornellà-El Prat respectively.
Before the season gets under way Barcelona will play a series of away friendlies against Celtic, Premier League champions Leicester City, and Liverpool. The first home match of the new season will be against Sampdoria on 10th August for the Gamper Trophy.
Things then get serious on 12th and 16th August with the two legs of the Spanish Supercup against Sevilla. Barcelona should have the advantage as the second leg is played at home. And then on to the first league match of the season a few days later for the beginning of what will hopefully be another exciting season for Futbol Club Barcelona.
A version of this post was first published as FC Barcelona's fixture list for 2016/17 on Simply Barcelona Tickets.