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El Clásico is the name given to the matches played between eternal rivals Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona.
Other than the final of the UEFA Champions League, it is considered as one of the biggest club football games because of the intensity born out of a clash of ideologies and is among the most viewed sporting events around the world.
Madrid and Barcelona are the two largest cities in Spain that are linked with opposing political views, Los Blancos are viewed as the embodiment of Spanish nationalism whereas the Blaugranas are viewed as a beacon of Catalan nationalism which reflects on the pitch.
The rivalry between the two of the largest clubs in the world is regarded as one of the biggest and the bitterest across all sporting platforms. These clubs are two of the richest and most successful football clubs in the world.
Over the turn of the century, we have seen some Clasicos that have enthralled the audience.
We look at the winners and losers from 5 such Clasicos played in the league:
#5 Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona (2015/16)
Winner - Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta was captain for the Blaugrana at the Santiago Bernabeu and he remained in charge of the proceedings. He was exceptional while in possession, helped change the tempo at the correct time and also scored a goal, drilling a shot into the top-right corner from outside the box after a clever Neymar Jr. backheel.
Kroos and Modric were not able to get close to him. He rarely lost possession while in play and his movement in between the lines was as impressive as ever while his ability to create space for his teammates made Madrid bleed whenever they lost possession.
Fittingly, Iniesta was applauded by the Bernabeu crowd while also getting a standing ovation, a gesture only reserved for Maradona and Ronaldinho.
Loser - Rafa Benitez
Rafa Benitez went back to the formation that he started the season with, a 4-2-3-1 in possession with Bale playing the No. 10 role behind Benzema, but with most of his star-studded lineup lacking match fitness, the tactic didn't pay off at all.
Barcelona's brilliant tactics and technical ability meant that the side from Catalonia swamped Los Blancos in midfield and without Casemiro in the starting lineup doing his job, it was way easy for the rival team to continuously win back the ball.
Benitez tried to stir things up in the second half when Isco came on, but there was no concrete change in approach regarding how the team attacked or defended, and Real never really came back into the game.
The game ultimately led to his sacking after a few weeks.
#4 Real Madrid 3-1 Barcelona (2014/15)
Winner - Karim Benzema
Real Madrid and France no. 9, Karim Benzema scored his 4th goal in the league in the win over Barcelona.
A powerful header from Pepe put the capital side ahead before they increased their lead when Karim Benzema finished a brilliant move after Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta lost possession of the ball on the halfway line.
Real lethally struck for their third. Isco, Ronaldo and James combined beautifully before the Colombian slid a pass through to Benzema, who angled in a laser-guided shot. A goal that he so desperately needed to bring back his confidence during that season.
Loser - Gerard Pique
Since the Guardiola revolution at Barcelona, Madrid humbling the Blaugrana in La Liga has been a rare feat, but in 2014, Los Blancos provided a daring smack to the face of their eternal rivals and it was mainly thanks to the showing of Barça’s centre back, Gerard Piqué.
With the Catalan side leading by one goal, Piqué committed a meaningless handball incursion to give Madrid a penalty which Ronaldo happily converted. He didn’t stop there and by not jumping for the corner, he let the ball reach a waiting Pepe who scored.
He was also caught running back from the final third as Los Blancos scored their third goal with a glorious counter-attacking move.
#3 Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid (2010/11)
Winner - Lionel Messi
Truth be told, any player of the Catalan side could be placed in this list as they were all exceptional in the 5-0 humbling of Real Madrid, but Messi stood apart like always with his own brand of genius football.
The diminutive Argentine has so many Clásico masterpieces that could have featured on this list, but his performance in this match was the most team-oriented. Playing the game in his favourable false nine positions, Messi moved through the Real XI like they were not even there in order to destabilise Mourinho’s side.
He was absolutely untouchable as he provided two mindblowing assists for Spanish striker turned left winger David Villa in the second half.
Loser - Sergio Ramos
For a big game player like Ramos, he’s sure had some forgettable appearances in El Clásico. While in the 2005 season, he was absolutely humiliated by the individual genius of Ronaldinho, in the 2010 season he was atrociously humbled by Pep Guardiola’s side. Barcelona disintegrated Real Madrid with a 5-0 thumping and Ramos became the scapegoat in an overall poor performance.
From getting toyed with by striker extraordinaire David Villa for his 1st goal, to getting debauched inside out by Messi’s incredible pass to Villa for the 4th goal, to losing the player he was supposed to mark, Jeffren, for the fifth. To finish off the night, he burst out at Messi, kicking him in the process and pushing Puyol to get himself a red card.
A terrible performance.
#2 Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona (2005/06)
Winner - Ronaldinho
Rijkaard’s Barcelona side were already the champions in Spain but they were yet to make a statement to every club they were competing with. Come November 2005, they got what they wanted.
The Brazillian illusionist, the sorcerer, the player who always has a smile on his face was at his magical best as he ripped the Real Madrid side to shreds in an attacking display that everyone present at the Bernabeu would remember all their life.
His performance was so amazing that it made the Santiago Bernabeu rise to their feet and give the genius a standing ovation, previously only received by Diego Maradona, after he scored the second of his two goals.
Loser - Sergio Ramos
Unfortunate for Sergio Ramos. He has grown so much in recent times but back in 2005 he was still a reckless and childish right-back and when the team from Catalonia came to his town, he was the victim of Ronaldinho’s performance of a lifetime.
He had the opportunity to defuse the brilliant Brazilian twice and both times he chose to dive in and make the unfruitful tackle. It is irrelevant to even say that Ronaldinho blew past him both times like he wasn’t even there before humiliating Iker Casillas with two deadly finishes.
#1 Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona (2008/09)
Winner- Xavi
This was some way of announcing your prowess to the world. Master tactician, Pep Guardiola unshackled a monster in Leo Messi as he played the false nine against a hapless Real Madrid in the Spring of 2009.
Barcelona were rampaging past everyone in sight looking for the treble. While Messi’s heroics stole the headlines, it was Xavi who grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Maurading into spaces that the Argentine created, Xavi provided four assists, yes four!
Firstly his free kick from the left-hand side was headed into the net by captain Carles Puyol, then he took the ball off Diarra and passed it to Leo Messi all in the same move.
Then he made a mockery of Madrid’s offside trap with a precision pass to Frenchman, Thierry Henry before he finally sent the entire Los Blancos defence dancing around him as he moved on the spot and feed a beautiful ball to Messi to make it 2-5.
A true masterclass by a genius at work.
Loser - Fabio Cannavaro
Fabio Cannavaro had won the incredible World Cup just 3 years ago when he was obliterated to shreds by a rampant Blaugrana side. As Guardiola’s overachieving debut season was coming to a successful end, he decided to bring out the big guns and played Leo Messi in the false nine role against Madrid and the Italian Ballon d’Or winner had no chance of stopping this exuberant side.
He was not able to get near any Barcelona player during the game and he was repeatedly found out of position by the incredulous movement of the trio of Henry, Xavi and Messi. Xavi danced his way around the defence as he pleased and swiftly moved away from Cannavaro for the fourth of the 6 goals Barça scored on the night.
