Featured Image Credit: Alamy
Topics: La Liga, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Football
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: La Liga, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Football
ITV has announced it will broadcast La Liga matches live this season after agreeing a three-year deal to show Spanish football.
Matches featuring Real Madrid and Barcelona will be shown on free-to-air TV in the UK after ITV signed a deal to broadcast La Liga matches up to and including the 2024-25 campaign.
ITV have secured the UK television rights to 10 matches per season, with games to be broadcast live on ITV, ITV4 and ITV Hub.
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Barcelona's trip to Real Sociedad on Sunday, August 21 will be the first live game shown on ITV, who agreed the deal with the main broadcast rights holder for La Liga in the UK, Premier Sports.
Coverage of the match will begin on ITV4 at 8:30pm, with kick-off at 9pm.
Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, said: "This deal ensures free to air coverage for all football fans of one of the most entertaining leagues in the world.
"The deal with Premier Sports will give fans the chance to see some of the most iconic clubs and world-class players in action, live on ITV."
ITV's 10 matches will also be shown on Premier Sports and LaLiga TV, which will also broadcast all other available live games.
Football fans are excited by the prospect of watching Spanish football's biggest teams in action, with the new season to get underway this season.
"Great news! Any free to air live football is a welcome bonus," wrote one fan on Twitter.
Another added: "Good news provided it is fully La Liga rather than wall to wall Barca and Real…."
While a third wrote: "Thank god, something free for a change, well done @itvfootball."
Real Madrid begin their title defence away at Almeria on Sunday, while their bitter rivals Barcelona are in action on Saturday – hosting Rayo Vallecano at the Nou Camp.