El Clásico refers to the eagerly anticipated football matches featuring Spanish football heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid. It is arguably the most awaited game in world football as the two sides dominate, and have dominated, Spanish and European football ever since their creation. Not just that, the intense rivalry between these two has deep connections to not just the differences in history and culture but also the difference in political landscapes between the regions of Catalonia, where Barcelona are based, and Madrid, Spain's capital city and home of Real Madrid.
Their first official match was held in 1902 and it started an intense rivalry as the two sides have faced each other in over 250 games in the years since. It has meant that the rivalry has only grown and thrived in intensity over the years. The political tension between the two sections of Spain has had an impact on the rivalry which has naturally led to the games being emotionally charged with fans of both teams often displaying banners and chanting slogans related to the political situation.
However, in modern history, El Clasico has become one of the most watched and highly anticipated matches in the football calendar, with fans from across the world tuning in because of the status that both Barcelona and Real Madrid occupy on football's landscape. That has only been helped by the fact that both Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo plied their trade at the same time in Spain for more than half a decade which only made the rivalry even more charged between the two Spanish giants.
Tickets
Given how popular El Clasico has grown, tickets to the game are as scarce as gold dust. Yet, if you want to purchase El Clásico tickets, you have a few possibilities. It is crucial to remember, however, that tickets for this match are in high demand and might be difficult to secure. Consequently, it is important to research the La Liga schedule and purchase tickets in advance through a reputable ticket-booking agency.
For those with lady luck on their side, you might even be able to purchase them through the official websites of the two teams. As previously stated, purchasing match tickets from the official websites of Barcelona or Real Madrid is the best alternative.
But, considering how sought-after these tickets are, they are certain to be snapped up quickly and may even need the purchase of a membership or season ticket. But, another alternative is to buy tickets from a third-party ticket vendor. Regrettably, if you buy from these suppliers, you run the chance of getting false or invalid tickets. It is advised to pick a reliable merchant with positive feedback.
Players
Barcelona has been plagued by injuries this season, which has hampered their European campaign although their La Liga season has been in fine fettle. The Catalan giants sit atop the league table with nine points over Real Madrid in second place. Yet, this is despite the fact that both Ousmane Dembele and Pedri are injured and will miss the El Clasico.
Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona’s big summer signing, does have 25 goals and 6 assists in all competitions but he has been off his pace recently. The Pole is still an offensive threat although Raphinha has been the one who has often led Barcelona’s offense over the last few months. The Brazilian seems to have found his footing off-late with his goal proving to be the winner against Athletic Bilbao.
However, the main reason that many Barcelona fans are optimistic is because defender Ronald Araujo has served his one-match ban and is available again. The center-back has been in fine fettle for the La Liga giants and will most definitely play a key role for Xavi’s side.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, has failed to find a consistent presence in goal although both Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema have found somewhat of a rich vein of form recently. The duo has each netted 19 goals this season although the Frenchman has been in and out of the team with various injuries. It’s Eduardo Camavinga, however, who will be a presence for Real Madrid as the 20-year-old’s versatility has been a key reason why the Los Blancos are where they are.
Camavinga has often been used to plug the left-back hole for Carlo Ancelotti’s side and with both Ferland Mendy and David Alaba a doubt against Barcelona, the Frenchman could be a key star.
Head to Head
The Copa del Rey encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu in March 2023 was the 252nd competitive Clasico, but Real Madrid and Barcelona had previously met 34 times in exhibitions and other non-competitive matches. The total head-to-head record of the teams has been quite close, with Real - who have achieved a century of glory - possessing bragging rights in competitive outings while Barcelona has the advantage when exhibition games are included in.
In total, the two teams have met 252 times, with Real Madrid winning 101 times to Barcelona's 99, with the remaining 52 games being drawn.
TV Streaming channels
The second La Liga 2022-23 El Clasico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will take place on March 20th at Camp Nou. The game is set to begin at 1:30 a.m. IST and will have a live stream in India. This is the third El Clasico of the 2022-23 season and the second in La Liga, with Los Blancos prevailing 3-1 in the last league match.
As previously stated, the game will be live-streamed in India on the JioCinema and Voot OTT platforms. The match will be broadcast live in India on Sports18 1, Sports18 1 HD, and Sports18 Khel TV. Moreover, in the United Kingdom (UK), Premier Sports 1 will broadcast Barcelona vs. Real Madrid live, with La Liga TV providing a streaming option. El Clasico can be watched live on ESPN+ in the United States.
