La Liga to be shown for FREE on ITV this season starting with Barcelona at Athletic Bilbao on Friday – The Sun

ITV will continue to air coverage of La Liga matches on terrestrial TV this season starting with Barcelona at Athletic Bilbao on Friday.

The broadcaster took on limited rights to games from February after streaming service Eleven Sports surrendered its exclusive rights deal in December.

ITV screened weekly matches along with a midweek highlights programme until the end of the campaign.

But it was feared that Spanish domestic football had made a short return to UK free-to-air channels after it was revealed that there was no bidder for the rights this term.

But ITV have now announced they will continue their partnership for the 2019-20 campaign – starting with Barca's travel to San Mames.

Matches will air on ITV4, available on Freeview, including a weekly highlights show that will also be scheduled on ITV.

Lionel Messi and Co's home fixture against Real Betis on August 25 has also been confirmed for broadcast.

While Real Madrid's trip to Villarreal on September 1 rounds out the opening schedule, which means Premier League fans haven't seen the last of Eden Hazard.

Eleven Sports had the coverage last season with a three-year deal but after struggling to generate enough subscribers La Liga undertook a new auction of rights 12 months on.

Sky Sports had been the long-time broadcaster for La Liga coverage before the little-known broadcaster took over last year.

Pay-TV channel Premier Sports also showed four games every week last season.

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