For the first time in about 81 years, La Liga will feature matches around Christmas with no real winter break — all due to the pandemic.

There will be matches till Wednesday, followed by a short break. Action will resume on December 29 with Sevilla facing Villarreal, followed by Barcelona taking on Eibar.

Players thus will get just the Christmas weekend off, but they aren’t complaining. “I’m actually looking forward to playing,” said Cadiz midfielder Jose Mari at a global conference organised by La Liga.

“It has been a special year for us as we are back in the main division of the league. We really wanted to play during this period just like it happens in some other countries. It’s also a nice time of the year to enjoy football and sports in general.

“Sports will make people happier at this time of the year,” Mari added.

“From what I know, the last time a La Liga match happened during Christmas was way back in 1939. So that’s more than 80 years ago,” La Liga India managing director Jose Antonio Cachaza told The Telegraph.

“Now how difficult is it for the players? Well, in Spain there has always been vacation during Christmas. While in England and some other countries, there have always been matches during this period. But players are professional and we believe and won’t have a problem focusing on what they need to do.”