When Real Madrid and Barcelona play, everyone wants to know the TV coverage plans. The two titans of European football have the most historic rivalry on the continent, and perhaps in the world.
This season, both clubs have high expectations. Real Madrid won the League and the Champions League a season ago. On the other hand, Barcelona recruited unlike any club in the world to keep up with Los Blancos. Therefore, the first match of the campaign between Real Madrid and Barcelona is very appealing for coverage plans.
Coverage plans Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Start Time: 10:15 am ET / 7:15 am PT – Sunday, October 16 Watch Now (in the US): Live on ESPN+ and ESPN DeportesCommentators: Ian Darke and Steve McManamanUS TV: The game is exclusive to ESPN+ and ESPN Sports
The most important thing about the coverage plans involving Real Madrid and Barcelona is that the game is only available on ESPN+. Now, ESPN Deportes is also an option for those interested in coverage in Spanish. However, for the English broadcast in the United States, ESPN+ is the only location for the game.
ESPN did the same for El Clásico last season, the company’s first season with LaLiga. This is a move to generate subscriptions to ESPN+, instead of putting the game on the channel that many people already have. However, since this is the paid streaming service, all of the buffer coverage on both sides of the game is also available via ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.
First El Clasico of the season
This meeting between Real Madrid and Barcelona has a significance that goes beyond a derby. These two teams are top of the LaLiga table by a fairly comfortable sum in just eight games. Tied on 22 points after eight games, each team has seven wins and one draw. The third team, Athletic, is already five points behind these two.
This is the first opportunity that Robert Lewandowski will have to play against Real Madrid in the colors of Barcelona. Of course, he scored four goals against Los Blancos in the 2012/13 Champions League with Borussia Dortmund. However, in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons, Real Madrid eliminated Internacional from Poland and Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
It’s shaping up to be an interesting contest, and one sure to have fireworks.
PHOTO: IMAGO / NurPhoto
