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So, just two more games till the El Clasico and Barcelona are already six points behind Real Madrid. It is a new sight in Spanish League football. After all, Barcelona have been winning virtually everything for the past 4-5 years. Real Madrid last won a league Clasico against Barcelona way back in 2008. What will they do now? Will Mourinho change the fortunes?
That can wait, we still have two more weeks to discuss and banter. But, now, do you know what makes El Clasic games this special? This riveting?
Yes, we at India are more passionate about Man Utd – Liverpool and Arsenal – Spurs games but worldwide, the attention and fan following that Clasico gets is unmatchable. Don’t know why? Read along.
1. It is not just the geography
Well, most derby games and rivalries start because the two teams are in the same geographical location. See Merseyside Derby or the Manchester Derby. Even in Spain, the El Clasico is followed by the Madrid derby featuring Real and Atletico.
Now, Barcelona and Real Madrid are not in the same town neither in the same district. And that is something which makes their derby special.
2. Democracy vs Monarchy
Now, you know that we refer Barcelona as the “Catalan side”. Similarly, Real Madrid belongs to the Castilian region. Both these regions are poles apart in ideas and politics.
The Catalans favor democracy and voting while the Castilians favor the royal family. Do you remember the King of Spain coming to the Wimbledon Finals when Rafael Nadal had won? He is from the Castilian region.
In the older days, the royal family suppressed regions like Catalonia who fought for Independence. So, when these teams fight, it is a battle between Democracy and Monarchy!
3. Everyone has a winner in mind!
People seeing the EPL are rather sadistic. If two teams challenging your favorite team face-off, you always wish for a draw. You don’t care who wins or who scores but you don’t want that result to affect your team.
That really isn’t the case in El Clasico. Everyone and I mean Everyone has a winner in mind. The game divides the country into two regions and every fan from every district watches the game.
4. The talent and history at stake
Cristiano Rolando, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Higuian, Ozil, Ramos and the list goes on and on. Ever wondered why all the best players play at the Spanish League? Yes, it might be because of the money still, it is the greatest league to play at.
Ronaldo left Man United dry because he wanted to play ‘at the best league in the world’. Although the teams at England are trying to catch up, in reality, it may take 5-6 teams to match up to the two giants from Spain.
History is a really bad thing. When Alfredo di Stefano chose Real when both the teams were fighting for him, it fueled the rivalry. The same happened when Luis Figo moved from Barcelona to Real in 2000. All this history between the two teams just fuels things up.
5. The Atmosphere
The largest EPL stadium is the Old Trafford which can hold around 75,000 people and that is electric. But, both Real’s stadium Santiago Bernabeu as well as Barcelona’s Camp Nou are larger than that.
Camp Nou can hold close to 98,770 people while Bernabeu can hold 80,000 people. These stadiums are tightly filled for the Clasico games and the atomosphere is just electric.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=3GlraCrwh88
With the fans shouting, the commentators screaming, it is just the best possible environment for a football fan watching it on TV. For the players, it is their worst nightmare.
6. The games!
Yes, the rivalry has been loop sided for 2-3 years now but you cannot argue with the quality that these games have produced over the years.
That 3-3 game from 2007 was one such instant. It was an amazing game which showed the world who Lionel Messi was. It also showcased the quality of football in Spain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=hbAfbTqbzVU
The return of Luis Figo to Camp Nou in 2002 was another show piece of the rivalry. The game ended goal less but 90,000 people went shreaking every time Figo touched the ball. It was just electric!
So, now tell me, do you find these in English rivalries? I don’t think so.
