El Clasico, (English: The Classic) also known as El Derby Espanol is the name given to the football match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two of the biggest teams in Spanish Football. As per the normal schedule it comes twice in a year when the two teams face each other in the Spanish La Liga, while the number of matches may increase in a year if the two teams face each other in other competitions other than the European Champions League Final. It is the most followed football match along with the Milan Derby.
The rivalry begins with Barcelona and Madrid being the two biggest cities in Spain also having the richest, most successful and influential clubs in the world. Combining, they have won 146 trophies with Real Madrid having won 74 and Barcelona having 72 in their trophy Cabinet.
HISTORY BEHIND THE RIVALRY:
Both clubs have been politically charged and the Barcelona Presidency is one of the strongest political elections. Also in 1930’s Barcelona was described as “The symbol of Catalan pride and identity” which opposed the centralized tendencies of Madrid.
Phil Ball, the author of Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football, calls the El Clásico "a re-enactment of the Spanish Civil War". A similar analogy was made by American author Robert Coover, which described the 1977 match between the "archrivals" Barcelona FC and Real Club Deportivo Espanol as "more like a reenactment of the Spanish Civil War than a mere athletic event."
DI STEFANO TRANSFER:
The rivalry became the most tensed in 1950’s when the clubs disputed on the signing of Alfredo De Stefano. Stefano had impressed both teams with his skills while playing in Club Deportivo Los Millonarios in Bogotá. Due to some confusion both Madrid and Barcelona claimed that they have signed Stefano resulting in an intervention by FIFA representative Munoz Calero, who made the decision that both teams will use Stefano in alternate seasons. Later political influence made Barcelona President to back down from their claim and De Stefano was transferred to Madrid.
CURRRENT ISSUES:
The two teams met in the European Champions League semifinal in 2002, with Real Madrid winning with aggregate score of 3-1. Spanish Media name this encounter “The Match of the Century”, being watched by more than 500 Million people. In the Clasico held in November 2005, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid on their home ground by 3-0. The star for Barcelona in that match was Ronaldinho, who became the second player after Diego Armando Maradona to receive a standing ovation from the Madrid fans.
The biggest issue in this rivalry was the transfer of players in both teams that made this rivalry more strong. Barca players who later joined Madrid include Bernd Schuster, who transferred in 1988. Michael Laudrup went to Real Madrid on a free transfer in 1994, but the most controversial was the switch of former vice-captain Luis Figo in 2000 who got a Pig’s head when he returned to Barcelona field as a Real Madrid player. The transfer of players from Real Madrid to Barcelona is less, the recent being Luis Enrique who went to Barcelona in 1996.
The year of 2011 became the most intense as both teams faced each other many times including 4 face-offs in just 18 days which had the Champions League Semifinals as well as the Copa Del Rey final. Several accusations of non-sportsman ship from both teams and a war of words caused four red cards in those fixtures. Spanish Coach Vincent Del Bosque stated that he was concerned that the rising hatred between the two clubs might cause a tense atmosphere in the national side, which would be a disaster for the world champions.
HEAD TO HEAD:
League Matches From 1929 to date:
|
Total |
162 |
|
Real Madrid Won |
68 |
|
Barcelona Won |
63 |
|
Draws |
31 |
|
Real Madrid Goals |
259 |
|
Barcelona Goals |
25 |
Copa Del Rey Matches from 1902 to date:
|
Total |
29 |
|
Barcelona Won |
14 |
|
Real Madrid Won |
10 |
|
Draws |
05 |
|
Barcelona Goals |
59 |
|
Real Madrid Goals |
56 |
League Cup Matches from 1982 to 1986:
(The cup was disbanded n four years due to lack of participation from teams)
|
Total |
06 |
|
Barcelona Won |
02 |
|
Real Madrid Won |
00 |
|
Draws |
04 |
|
Barcelona Goals |
13 |
|
Real Madrid Goals |
08 |
Spanish Super Cup Matches from 1988 to 2011:
(Equivalent of the England’s FA community shield the Spanish Super Cup is played between winners of La Liga and Copa Del Rey)
|
Total |
10 |
|
Barcelona Won |
05 |
|
Real Madrid Won |
03 |
|
Draws |
02 |
|
Barcelona Goals |
21 |
|
Real Madrid Goals |
13 |
Champions League Matches:
Both teams met in the following Champions league matches.
1959-60 (Semifinal)
1960-61 (First Round)
2001-02 (Semifinal)
2010-11 (Semifinal)
|
Total |
08 |
|
Barcelona Won |
03 |
|
Real Madrid Won |
02 |
|
Draws |
03 |
|
Barcelona Goals |
13 |
|
Real Madrid Goals |
10 |
Head to Head in All competitions from 1902 to Date:
|
Total |
215 |
|
Barcelona Won |
86 |
|
Real Madrid Won |
84 |
|
Draws |
45 |
|
Barcelona Goals |
354 |
|
Real Madrid Goals |
347 |
The overall stats show this encounter as one of the finest football encounters in world. Hope to see some good football in coming years from both the sides.
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