The latest El Clasico certainly proved that even though the standings had Real Madrid as the number 1 team, Barca proved that they were deserving to take over the top spot. After goals from Xavi, Villa and Pedro, with Messi carving up the midfield, and Xavi making 110 passes, the most in a any game so far this year, the red and blue showed that they were heads and tails the better team when playing at home. Although the rest of the year still needs to be played out, and Madrid can still have the last laugh by garnering more points before the end of the season and taking home the true prize.
Much of the early Real Madrid – Barcelona stemmed from the rivalry between the two cities they represent. On the way hand you had Real who were the darlings of General Franco and the establishment. On the other hand you had the more lowly Barcelona. Barcelona were proud of their Catalan roots and felt that the Franco establishment was out to get them. They were right. Franco and his men were trying to stamp out any cultural independence from Barcelona and to try and make them dissociate themselves from their Catalan roots and history. When Castilian Spanish became the only officially-recognised language, the Barcelona football club became one of the very few places where Catalan could be spoken. Thus in trying to stamp out their identity they only made it even stronger.
In 1941, Barcelona were told to lose on purpose to Madrid. They couldn’t think of anything worse to do and so lost 11-1. As a result of this, Barcelona players were fined and suspended.
When Real Madrid won the first five European Cups they were taken to a new level. They were now the most well known sporting team on the planet. So who were the first team to knock Real Madrid out of the European Cup? Barcelona in 1961 and the Barcelona fans have let Real Madrid know this ever since. This victory took the Barcelona – Real Madrid rivalry onto a completely different level. As did the 2002 Champions League semi final which was played out between the two teams. The first leg was played at the Camp Nou and Real won 2-0. Following this the tie was as good as over. The second leg was 1-1 but it wasn’t enough for Barca.
Another thing which has added to the rivalry has been the player movements between the teams. When Ronaldo did it people weren’t happy but the most controversial in recent times was Luis Figo. In 2000, he left Barcelona for Real Madrid in what was a world record fee. The Barcelona fans were furious with Figo and let him know it. One fan threw a pig’s head at him. The same thing happened earlier with Michael Laudrup on his transfer to Real. Laudup would end up winning La Liga five years in a row with two different teams.
When Barcelona signed Dutch legend Johan Cruyff, in the 1970s, Real Madrid didn’t like it. When Barcelona defeated them 5-0, they liked it even less.
Similarly Barcelona didn’t like it when they felt Real Madrid pinched Alfredo di Stefano from under their noses. They wanted to sign him but somehow he ended up at Real Madrid. History would later repeat itself with David Beckham. Whether Real wanted him or not wasn’t important, what was important was that Barcelona wanted him and they wanted to prevent that from happening.
The Barcelona – Real Madrid rivalry has a number of other factors which make it so big. Barcelona think of themselves as more than a sporting club. They refuse commercial sponsorship on their football jersey and fan the money grabbing and crass commercial style of Real as an anathema to the game.
Cruyff would become a key figure in Barcelona’s history. His return to the club as manager saw them claim their first every European Cup. Under his watch, Barcelona won everything there was to win. Notwithstanding all of his success, a few lean years were enough for him to be shown the door.
With Barcelona in disarray, Real Madrid felt the time was right for a counter-attack. They bought Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham. It was a star studded team and they played some good football but something didn’t click. They won La Liga, but for a team that prides itself on how it performs in Europe, its lack of success in the Champions League was galling. They haven’t been to the Champions League final since 2002.
Meanwhile, Barcelona with Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho had a good team. They won the Champions League in 2006 and then did it again in 2009. This drove Real Madrid mad and they replaced managers at a rapid rate.
A pivotal point in the Real Madrid – Barcelona rivalry happened in November 2005 in a match that won’t be forgotten. Playing at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid had no answer for Barcelona and Ronaldinho who were both simply magnificent. The visitors won 3-0 on the back of two incredible individual goals from the Brazilian star. Then the unimaginable happened – the Real Madrid fans gave him a standing ovation.
The Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry twists and turns as it did in 2007. Player Bernd Schuster returned to the club as coach. He took his side to the Camp Nou and they won there. This victory was the catalyst for Real Madrid taking out La Liga. When Barcelona gave to Madrid for the return match, Real were already champions and as tradition dictates, Barcelona players had to form a guard of honor for the Real players. This gesture always adds another edge to the rivalry when it has to be performed.
Like with many of the other football rivalries, the Barcelona- Real Madrid has been somewhat softened by the fact that they realize they need each other. They can achieve far more with some sort of co-operation than they can against. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona were members of the G14 group – a group consisting of the 14 most powerful football clubs in the world. They were acting together on behalf of each other’s collective interests. The Real Madrid – Barcelona rivalry can only exist due to the presence of the other and because of that, as much as they wouldn’t like to admit it, there is some mutual respect and admiration. Over the years, many things have changed in football but the Real Madrid – Barcelona rivalry is as strong as ever.
