Madrid, Barcelona to play for the 7th time in 2011

Real Madrid and Barcelona will play each other in 2011 for a record seventh time in December.

The Spanish league rivals are scheduled to play at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on December 10. Unless Barcelona pushes for a change, it would then travel straight to Japan to compete in the Dec. 8-18 Club World Cup.

The pair are scheduled to meet again on April 22, 2012, in a match that could decide the league with only four rounds to play.

They play a two-legged Spanish Supercup series in August after having already met in league, Copa del Rey and Champions League play this year.

The season opens the weekend of August 20.