2017-18 Serie A TIM: matchdays on 23 and 30/12/2017, end of year break shifted to January

"The Assembly of the Lega Serie A has decided to play during the Christmas holiday time, while avoiding the scheduling of matches directly on the holy dates, out of respect for the Catholic tradition (Christmas Day, 25 December, and Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr, 26 December). We will play on the Saturdays of 23 and 30/12/2017, and on Saturday 06/01/2018," said Ezio Maria Simonelli, the interim president of the Lega Serie A, after the General Assembly of the Italian League, held in Milan (ITA) on 13/04/2017.

The winter break will be shifted to January, from 07 to 20/01/2018. Three matchdays are scheduled in the middle of the week, on 20/09 and 25/10/2017, and 18/04/2018. The 2017-18 Serie A season will end on 20/05/2018, or 25 days before the opening match of the 2018 World Cup in Russia (14/06 - 15/07/2018).

"We will start the champions on 20/08/2017, the same as (LaLiga in) Spain, and our opponent in September in 2018 World Cup qualification. We have discussed the possibility of starting from 13/08/2017, but playing in August in Italy is really not advisable," said Ezio…