El Clasico: 5 answers to questions people ask about Spain's most intense rivalry

#4 El Clasico - Where did the name come from?

This is the question many people are finding an answer for. The term 'El Clasico' has gained a lot of recognition over the years, forcing football fans to ask questions regarding how it came into existence.

Initially, the clash between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid was called 'El Derbi' in Spain, while El Clasico was reserved for the matches between Boca Juniors and River Plate, a strong rivalry in Argentina.

However, Barcelona's rise to prominence in the 1990s forced a rename, and the clash between the two Spanish giants became known as El Clasico, which simply means 'The Classic' with regards to the intense encounters among the two clubs - with almost every clash between the two sides living up to that billing, and producing classical games every season.

About the author

Jidonu is a European and international football news writer at Sportskeeda. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and has around 7 years of previous experience working with the likes of Tribuna and SportRaba, Jidonu has a good eye for detail and has the ability to created cohesive articles, and reporting exploits have also led him to exclusively cover the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the past.

Jidonu’s tryst with football started after watching the 2002 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, being mesmerized by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Barcelona philosophy and approach towards the game under Pep Guardiola further fueled the burgeoning love for the sport, and he has been a Culer ever since.

Unsurprisingly, Lionel Messi is his favorite player and is the one true GOAT for him over Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final, where Messi's brace led to La Albiceleste lifting the cup left a lasting impact on him. His love for Messi also sees him follow Major League Soccer apart from Europe’s top five leagues.

In his free time, Jidonu raps and produces music, and also enjoys reading and swimming.

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Edited by Anthony Akatugba Jr.