La Liga president Javier Tebas says there is no chance of rescheduling next month's Madrid derby despite Atletico Madrid complaining that the timing favours hosts Real Madrid.
The game was set this week for 4 p.m. local time on Saturday Feb. 27, meaning Atletico will face a tight turn-around as they are playing in the Champions League at PSV Eindhoven the previous Wednesday night.
Real, by contrast, have no European fixture that midweek so will have a full week to prepare for a game they realistically need to win to stay in this season's La Liga title race.
Atletico captain Gabi had said he hoped that the game could be moved to later in the weekend, with fixture changes happening quite regularly in La Liga, so that he and his team would have more time to get ready.
However, La Liga chief Tebas told a press event that the fixture would not be moved.
"It happens various times over the duration of the season, with teams who are playing in the Champions League and those who are not," Tebas said. "But there are midweek La Liga games and people who have to play on Wednesday and on Saturday. That is the calendar, that is what has happened, and it will be played at that time.
"There have been complaints before from Valencia, Real Madrid and Barcelona for the same reasons. Saturday at 4 p.m. is prime time for television. We must find a balance between sporting interests and the global financial interest of La Liga."
Viewers in the United Kingdom might not agree with this, as British broadcasters are forbidden from screening games live if they kick off at the traditional time of 3 p.m. on a Saturday.
However this kick-off time does help viewers in China and other East Asian countries, and under Tebas La Liga has been keen to grow interest and broadcasting revenues from these and other international markets.
After the fixture time was announced on Monday, Atletico club captain Gabi had told AS that some extra time to recover would be good for his side.
"For us everything that helps to recover is a positive," Gabi. "But if La Liga sets it then they will have their reasons. We have never looked for anything as an excuse. I hope there can be a change because another day would be good for us."