Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: Date and Time Announced for 2014 El Clasico

It's been announced that the first Clasico encounter of the 2014-15 campaign will take place on October 25 at 6 p.m. CET (5 p.m. BST/12 p.m. ET), when Barcelona travel to face Real Madrid. 

Anticipation had been building around the Liga clash, which was yet to receive an official kick-off until Wednesday's reveal, per 101GreatGoals:

Of course, a natural side story to the announcement is that Luis Suarez will be available to feature for Barcelona in what will be his first appearance for the club.

The Daily Mail confirmed the Uruguayan's availability, his four-month ban from football ending just 24 hours prior to the titanic collision between two of Spain's domestic title favourites:

Any El Clasico derby is a fixture that usually goes on to greatly impact the overall outlook of La Liga's standings come the end of the season, presenting both teams with an opportunity to take an edge.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have already dropped points after losing 4-2 to Real Sociedad in their second game of the campaign, their first fixture of the season without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Luis Enrique will hope Suarez can have a similar, galvanising quality on his Blaugrana line-up, with the Catalan giants currently top of the table after winning in their first two outings.

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This El Clasico also falls in conjunction with a Champions League week, thus the late announcement of timing, with Real set to travel to Liverpool just three days prior (Oct. 22) in their third group game.

Barca, meanwhile, have an easier task of playing host to Ajax, not only at home but also entertaining the Dutch outfit a day earlier (Oct. 21).

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

It's often the case that these small variables can impact matters dramatically, with Barca needing every advantage they can gain in order to fend off their bitter La Liga rivals.

This will also be Enrique's first El Clasico experience as manager of Barcelona, where he'll hope to extend Carlo Ancelotti's dismal league record against the Blaugrana from last season, during which they lost both El Clasico matchups.

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

The return of Suarez in time for the October fixture will be treated as a major boost for the Bernabeu visitors, but questions over the striker's fitness will be rife following such a lengthy ban.

Given that it will be his debut, it will also be of intrigue to see how he slots into Enrique's attack, given that off-field training and a match with high stakes such as this are two completely different prospects altogether.