The El Clasico
The El Clasico is the leading football rivalry in world football packed with everything…… history, political dimension, sporting animosity and brilliance, an eternal duel between arguably the greatest sides in football, a spectacle for the global audience, every broadcaster`s dream, an encounter with a compelling narrative that is suitable for both sides and even the neutrals.
Two sides from radically polarizing parts of Spain, Barcelona representing the Catalans, a need for freedom, a triumph over the establishment while Real Madrid everything Capitalistic, royalty and prestige, it matches success versus success at the highest level.
Two of the Best
In their luxurious history with few things separating them, Barca was formed in 1899 and Real just three years later, in 1902. Their independent total trophy cabinet a little bit the same having won everything on offer, Barcelona has won 99 trophies while Real Madrid have won 105 trophies Both have won the La Liga titles (27,36)63 times the Copa del Rey (31,20)51 times and the champions league(5,15)20 times the most collective haul, better than any other country from the Big Five leagues in Europe or anywhere else.
While Barcelona has won all three major titles within a season, twice(2009 and 2015) a record they share with Bayern Munich, a team they thrashed 4-1 in the mid-week champions league match, a sort of dress rehearsal for this encounter, In both treble winning occasions, Messi and the Spanish engine room comprising Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets, great players that went on to define modern international football history were involved, Real Madrid the record winners of the champions league by more than a mile, eight more than their closest rivals Milan and three times more than Barcelona, The Galaticos has provided the other Spanish stars that ruled the world, captain Casillas, Ramos and Alonso with their coach Del Bosque a calming and inspirational presence on the bench even Di Maria to compliment Messi for Argentina, also they have provided the best of the best, the other players that have won the Ball d Or this century since 2004, Ronaldinho and Messi on one side and Ronaldo, Cannavaro, Modric and Benzama on the other side with this season`s winner Rodri neither from both sides in a twenty years sequence of domination. He was the first Spanish winner since 1960, when Luis Suarez won it, a consolation halting the winning streak of Real Madrid that had three winners in succession with Di Stefano winning twice in between team mate Kopa, his namesake Uruguayan`s Luis Suarez was also a Barca player and formed a devastating triumvirate partnership with Neymar, Brazil`s record goal scorer and Messi, Argentina`s record goal scorer they peaked when they won the treble in 2015 coached by another Luis …. Enrique a former player of both sides, he swapped clubs, joining Barcelona on a free transfer in 1996, It does not end there, with the most expensive players in history landing mostly in either club with Figo`s transfer(Enrique`s teammate at Barcelona) from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 the most notorious movement between arch rivals, in recent times only one of such transfers did not involve either of them Pogba`s rejoining of the English giants Manchester United. Such excellence made both clubs the model for everything great, they were up there as the most marketable brand in sports,with the most social media followers, even the highest in Revenue.
Lewandowski and Yamal Both Players scored in the match.
The first official El classico match was played at les Cortes, Barcelona`s stadium in 1929 at the commencement of La Liga which they lost 2-1 but the 189th battle had a different winner, ending defending La Liga and Champions league winner, Real Madrid`s attempt to equal their 43 match unbeaten run which the record owners Barcelona snapped ,a script that can only be produced in Catalonia, it was a beauty to behold, a classic example on how to neutralize an opponent`s threat, it was a ruthless 4-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium named after one of their outstanding Icon, their former player and club President, it is surely their worst home defeat since 2009 when they were thrashed 6-2, their other treble winning year they won all six available trophies that season, although this match had none of the players with the most appearances Busquets(48) with Messi and Ramos(45) tied in second place, current team mates at Inter Miami, Messi and Busquets while Messi and Ramos were teammates at PSG . Messi was the overwhelming top scorer with 26 goals and Ronaldo with Di Stefano a distant second with 18 goals. It was the Spanish wonder kid Lamine Yamal scorer of the third goal that set the newest milestone when he became the youngest scorer at 17 years 105 days a sharp contrast to Di Stefano the oldest scorer at 37 years, 164 days again, Messi is the most prolific goals provider with 14 assists. both sides also appreciated the highest quality when they witnessed it, Despite the huge animosity several opposing players have been cheered by rival fans for their scintillating performances during the game such as Real`s Cunningham, Barca`s trio Maradona, Ronaldinho and Iniesta all three of them won the world cup such testament of their enduring quality.
The coaches behind the most success between both sides is Munoz with 16 wins with Cruyff, Guardiola and Ancelotti with 9 each, Munoz also had the most appearances with 36 again with Cruyff 25 and Mourinho and Ancelotti joint third with 17,
It can only get better
The El Classico has an assembly of superstars, the greatest collection in any rivalry with Pele one of the few greats that did not have a career with any of the clubs nevertheless the brightest stars gave a glitter and even fireworks to this sporting experience, the greatest goals depending on which side you are rooting for but still, such spectacular goal scorers were Messi, Ronaldinho both Ronaldos, Bale, Raul, David Villa even Lewandowsky second goal and second of the match, a brilliant header in this recent battle of champions will also be in the great goal reels. Captain Raphina`s sublime`s fourth from a cross field pass from Yamal was also a delight. Flick the second treble winning coach at Bayern Munich has been able to overturn their recent woeful record against the Germans and have announced his arrival in Spanish football. It is interesting to note that something is still missing,
This is a further breakdown with the several heavy defeats of Real Madrid in La Liga affecting their goal differential despite having more wins, in their recent semi final champions league matches in 2001/2002 and 2010/2011 the winner went on to win the title Real and then Barcelona.
Both have not played at the finals of the most important tournament in club football, the champions league, with the trend in victory, favoring the more accomplished team in the tournament but this Barcelona team is capable of turning the tide, it promises to be a match of the century, the finest sides that the world has ever seen, while we wait for history to make it happen, let us enjoy what history has already given us and will give us, let us all enjoy the El Classico!
