Thibaut Courtois proved the hero on Sunday as Real Madrid beat city rivals Atletico Madrid in a penalty shoot-out in Saudi Arabia to win their 11th Spanish Super Cup.

The first Clasico stalemate in 17 years means Barcelona will likely finish 2019 top of La Liga if they beat Alaves on Saturday, despite a distinctly underwhelming opening half of the season.

La Liga confirmed on Thursday it will appeal the decision to play Saturday's postponed Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid on December 18.

The rearranged Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid will be played on December 18 despite opposition from La Liga, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed on Wednesday.

Real Madrid have hardly got going and Granada have just arrived but La Liga's chaotic opening few weeks means they face each other in an unlikely battle of first against second on Saturday.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid travel to Andalusia this weekend in search of precious Liga points after stuttering form in Europe and in their domestic campaigns as table-toppers Sevilla await Zinedine Zidane's injury-stricken outfit.

Barcelona may want to make up for the biggest collapse in Europe by signing the most expensive player in the world but a team that was by far the best in Spain is already significantly better.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has said he would rather Neymar does not return to La Liga if he cannot improve his behaviour.

Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain should be excluded from European club competition and are nothing more than "playthings of a state", La Liga's president Javier Tebas has said.

Zinedine Zidane said on Wednesday La Liga will be Real Madrid's top priority next season after they were mathematically ruled out of the title race with five games left.

Barcelona might have their eighth title in 11 years all-but sewn up but, with six games left to play, La Liga is far from finished.

Ronaldo, the former Brazil striker and current majority shareholder of Real Valladolid, has said he would be in favour of the club playing La Liga games outside of Spain.