Suarez could make Barca debut in El Clasico

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez pictured after their World Cup victory over Italy in Natal, northern Brazil.
(AFP/Javier Soriano)

MADRID: Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, who is currently serving a four-month suspension for biting, is poised to potentially make his club debut against bitter rivals Real Madrid in late October.

Suarez, who joined Barca from Premier League side Liverpool earlier this month for £75 million ($128 million, 95 million euros), should be available in time for the Catalan giants' trip to the Santiago Bernabeu over the weekend of October 25-26. Suarez, 27, was banned for nine international matches matches and barred from all football activities for four months on June 26, two days after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

The Spanish Football League (LFP) announced the fixtures for the 2014/15 La Liga season on Thursday with title-holders Atletico Madrid set to kick off the defence of their crown away to city rivals Rayo Vallecano over the weekend of August 23-24. European champions Real Madrid, bolstered by the off-season acquisitions of James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos, begin their campaign at home to newly-promoted Cordoba, who are back in the Spanish top flight after a 42-year absence, while Barcelona host Elche.

La Liga newcomers Eibar face fellow Basque side Real Sociedad on the opening weekend of the season as Deportivo La Coruna, who returned to the top tier at the first attempt, travel to Granada. The second El Clasico of the season is scheduled for the weekend of March 21-22 at the Camp Nou with the season set to conclude on May 24.

Before the league campaign gets underway, though, Atletico will meet Copa del Rey winners Real in the two-legged Spanish Super Cup. The first leg takes place on August 19 at the Bernabeu with the return fixture set for the Vicente Calderon three days later.