FCBARCELONA.CAT

10.07.2009 15:00

Barça to start league at home to Sporting

Roger Bogunyà

FC Barcelona will begin their league title defence against Sporting Gijón, on Monday August 31 at the Camp Nou. The Barça v Madrid game is on November 29 and they close the season at home to Valladolid.

The fixtures are out for the 2009/10 season following a draw on Friday at the General Assembly of the RFEF. Barça will start at home to Sporting Gijón, who visit the Camp Nou on Monday August 31. The club has requested to play their first fixture at home, for sports-related reasons.

This is because on August 28, Barça will have travelled to Monaco to play Shakhtar Donetsk in the European Super Cup.

Second home start against Sporting

Barça have started one other season by entertaining Sporting on the opening day. That was the 1945/46 season, when FCB were still playing home matches at Les Corts. Goals from Bravo and Martín made it 2-0 to the home side in a game played on September 23.

They also started another season against Sporting, but that was at El Molinón. The season was 1994/95, Johan Cruyff’s last but one as manager, and Barça got off to a poor start with a 2-1 defeat. Koeman scored the only Barcelona goal on September 4.

Classic and derby to come later

For the third year running, the Camp Nou is the venue for the first encounter with Real Madrid. The date is November 29, while the return at the Santiago Bernabeu will be on April 12, seven games from the close of the season, which is on May 16.

The first city derby will also be at the Camp Nou, on December 13. Guardiola will not get the chance to play at the new Espanyol stadium until their 33rd game, almost at the very end of the season.

Barça v Valladolid to end the campaign

The Camp Nou will also see out the season. Barça end the season against Valladolid. But just before that, they will have travelled away to Sevilla for a game that could well prove decisive.