Greatest Footballing Rivalries – Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

After accompanying you on a trip down to the English meadows of the North-West to learn about the Red Rivalry in the Premier Edition of our series, today, we shall backpack to the beautiful landscapes of Spain – err or is it Catalan?? Well, I would be a noob to comment on their roots, so why not focus on Football, for once? As they say – two swords don’t fit in one scabbard; drawing on the same lines, you can’t boast of two footballing giants plying their trade in the same country and still managing to see eye-to-eye. Well, Spain is the proof of my hypothesis.

Barcelona and Real Madrid, unarguably football’s own Microsoft and Apple, were braced to face each other, since eternity. It’s a love affair written by the hallowed hands of Cupid to enthrall the common man and relieve him of his tensions. For a match made in heaven, Football proved to be a mere carrier of the perennial bloody Sicilian feud between the Royals of Spain and the Republicans of Catalan. As Barcelona’s ex-Manager, Frank Rijkaard aptly puts it-

“There’s politics behind it (the rivalry), culture behind it and feelings behind it.”

For two regions who are epitomes of conflicting philosophies, the football rivalry acts as a vent for their political views and frustrations. The rivalry has intensified to massive proportions globally, with El Clásico (as it is fondly called) being the most viewed football club match; beating the famed Milan derby. Dubbed as the “Greatest Football Match on Earth” by none other than the legendary Football Manager Sir Bobby Robson, it has lived up to its top-notch billing with many classy cliff-hangers in the previous years. To quote former Barça playmaker Deco-

“This is not just a Spanish Clasico. It’s a Clasico all over the world. It’s like a Champions League Final or a SuperBowl.”

The Barcelona club motto “Més que un club“ meaning ‘more than a club’ is instilled within its most passionate supporters who view the team as more than a football club, a way of life. This is interesting in contrast to Real Madrid’s motto which is ‘we are a team’ indicating the togetherness of the football club alone; thus displaying the valley between the ideologies of the two clubs.

For Catalans, Catalonia is a country in itself and this fixture is the emblem of the ‘Spanish nationalism’ vs ‘Catalan nationalism’. As Sir Bobby Robson, during his brief spell as Barcelona Manager, famously commented -

“I always felt like the general leading the Catalan army.”

His views seem to be the general consensus in Barcelona as many fans put a seal of approval on his ideas during a documentary interview-

“It’s all about identity. Whenever the team (FC Barcelona) takes the field, they always play for the Catalan flag. Whenever you are in Catalonia, you identify with the club.”

So, presenting to you El Clásico; Barcelona vs Real Madrid, the Castilians versus Catalans, the freedom fighters against Franco’s Fascists; an embellishing rivalry adding flavour to the conflicts of nationalism that exists within a nation.

Historical Roots

The more we try to separate sports from politics, the more we are amazed by the intricacies reflected by the two. It’s almost naïve to think that the most famous of the football rivalries could be an end-product of anything except politics.

El Clásico was no different. Well, it all started in 1939 after the conclusion of Spanish Civil War and the consequent General Franco regime. In the times of the Spanish Civil War, Madrid symbolised the national government and the centralisation and unification of Spain as Franco wanted. As the capital of the region of Catalonia, who at the time wanted independence from Spain, Barcelona represented exactly the opposite, the Republican point of view, and therefore conflict emerged between the two major cities in Spain. The oppressive nature of the Francoist regime toward Catalonia and her people forged a siege mentality within the club and region towards the controlling centrist powers in Madrid. Of course, Franco being a Real Madrid fan didn’t help matters either.

Thus, to launch a platform to raise Catalan’s voice against the oppressing central government, FC Barcelona were founded in 1899 by Swiss businessman, Joan Gamper. The final nail in the coffin was the assassination of erstwhile Barça’s President, Josep Sunyol, by Franco’s troops, which stings the Catalans till date.

To quote former gaffers of Barcelona -

“During the time of Franco, Catalans were not allowed to name their children with Catalan names, they couldn’t speak their language……It was repression.” - Frank Rijkaard

“Catalans came together and spoke their language in their football stadium” - Carles Rexach

One of the most noteworthy rule imposed by the Franco era was preventing foreign players to play for Barcelona, unless they also played for Real Madrid later on!

Football – The Perfect Catalyst

Well, a volatile chemical reaction can occur smoothly with the usage of a proper catalyst or if I may, that extra pinch of salt! So, what better than football to act as the carrier for the already – thriving rivalry amongst the Spanish powerhouses. With the battle to be crowned the Ultimate Spanish Campeons (Spanish, for Champions), the stage was all set for El Matadors to grace the game with their seductive Spanish style of play, with Barça the paragon of tiki-taka and Real Madrid the emulator of fluid football.

Real Madrid is the most successful club in Spanish football and was voted by FIFA as the most successful football club of the 20th century, having won a record 31 La Liga titles, 18 Spanish “Copa del Rey” Cups, 8 Spanish Super Cups, a record 9 UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 UEFA Cups, 1 UEFA Supercup, and 3 Intercontinental Cups. But Barcelona are seldom left behind, as the Catalans have had their fair share of success over the past decades. FC Barcelona is the second most successful club in Spanish football in terms of overall trophies, having pocketed 21 La Liga titles, a record 25 Spanish Cups, 9 Spanish Super Cups and 2 League Cups.

Real Madrid have amassed 76 trophies compared to Barça’s 73, thus leaving little to the imagination of the footballing prowess of these two giants.

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With Real Madrid a perennial force to reckon with and FC Barcelona the current Reyes (Spanish, for Kings) of Football, this rivalry has intensified over the years, thus sparking it up a notch. The rivalry has taken European centre-stage over the past decade or so, with Real Madrid claiming the Champions League in 1998, 2000 and 2002 only for Barcelona to return the favour in 2006, 2009 and 2011.

The worldwide fan base and support of both the clubs is astronomical. Real Madrid are the most followed club in Spain with 32% of the population rooting for them while 25% sympathise with Barça. But as always, Barça return the favour with it being the more successful club in Europe.

Alfredo Di Stefano Transfer Saga

Well, never a transfer would have created such a furore and never will! A transfer which became the epitome of the rivalry, unleashed a wave of hatred so intense, that the fire still burns in the Catalan hearts.

Focal point of the transfer tussle

Di Stefano, who later was to become a legend of the game, caught the eyes of the world while plying his trade for Club Deportivo Los Millonarios in Bogota. Both Real and Barça were suitors for his signature and both believed they owned his registration after confusion caused by a players’ strike in di Stefano’s native Argentina. Mysteriously, Barça backed down following intervention from the Spanish FA and rumours circulated that the Catalan club were forced by Franco to surrender the player.

But this was not all. With talismanic Di Stefano in their ranks, Madrid became an irresistible force winning the initial 5 European Champions Cup (known as Champions League today) competitions. To add fuel to the fire (if that was even possible!), Di Stefano scored a brace in his first match against Barcelona.

The fact that Di Stefano left a legacy at Real Madrid and with the potent hand of Franco in the transfer tussle, Barcelona fans still wince at the mention of Stefano’s name.

Player Transfers

The most controversial transfer: Luis Figo!

It’s a well-established fact in sports, especially football that players are not supposed to ply their trade for the arch-rivals, unless doomsday beckons. The players who have crossed the great divide, have had to bear the fans’ ire, to say the least. And when rivalry is of the scale of El Clásico, it’s better to stay on your side. But, sadly Luis Figo didn’t think so.

Figo was signed from Barcelona for a then world record fee of £37m by Real’s President, Florentino Perez. He was the first coup in the ‘Galacticos’ era, with the likes of Zidane and Brazilian Ronaldo to follow. And he received a ‘traitor’s’ reception when he went to Camp Nou for the league tie. ‘Judas’ chants and banners were accompanied by hurling of bike chains, glass bottles, mobile phones, and, notoriously, a pig’s head towards the vicinity of their once beloved Portuguese winger.

Some other famous players to have played for both clubs include the likes of Ronaldo, Eto’o, Hagi, Javier Saviola to name a few.

Legends

Johan Cruyff (Barcelona: 1974-79)

Johan Cruyff – The proponent of tiki-taka!

To say that Johan Cruyff is the primary reason behind much of Barcelona’s success since ’74 won’t be an overstatement of any sorts. The exponent of Total Football, Cruyff endeared himself to Catalan fans by famously snubbing a move to the Bernabeu and citing the involvement of Franco with Real Madrid as the reason behind his decision.

He was the proponent of the ‘tiki-taka’ style of Barça’s play, which they religiously follow till date. The visionary also laid the foundations of football philosophy – popularly known as ‘Cruyffismo’, embodying the Dutch principles of Total Football.

During his time at Barcelona, Cruyff scored one of his most famous goals, The ‘Phantom’ Goal. In a game against Atlético Madrid, Cruyff leapt into the air, twisted his body so he was facing away from the goal, and kicked the ball past Miguel Reina in the Atlético Madrid goal with his right heel (the ball was at about neck height and had already travelled wide of the far post). The goal has been dubbed Le but impossible de Cruyff (Cruyff’s impossible goal).

During his stint as Barcelona Manager later, Cruyff created his ‘Dream Team’ comprising of the likes of the current Barça gaffer Pep Guardiola, Michael Laudrup, Romario to name a few.

The current Barcelona team is an embodiment of Cruyff’s ideologies.

“Cruyff is the sporting and spiritual father of the club. He changed the sporting personality here (at Barcelona)….he had many important years with the Dream Team and above all made it into a winning team.”

- Alfredo Martinez, Journalist

Emilio Butragueño (Real Madrid: 1984-95)

Butragueno – El Buitre!

If there is anyone that can be put into the same category as Di Stefano in the context of Real Madrid, it has to be Emilio Butragueno. Nicknamed El Buitre (The Vulture), Butragueno was a member of the legendary Quinta del Buitre (the vulture squad), along with Manolo Sanchís, Rafael Martín Vázquez, and Miguel Pardeza.

Butragueño amassed La Liga totals of 341 games and 123 goals for his main club, in 12 seasons, for Real Madrid.

The deadly Spanish striker was the vital ingredient that transformed Real Madrid’s patchy side into world-beaters, winning 5 consecutive La Liga titles in the process. This was a period of Real domination, shadowing their arch Catalan rivals.

Butragueno was nicknamed as the Gentleman of the Pitch as he never received a single red card during his entire career!

5 Key Clashes that Defined the Rivalry

Barcelona 5 – 0 Real Madrid (January 8, 1994, Camp Nou)

Romario secured a hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of Madrid!

It was the fourth consecutive La Liga title season for Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ and a thrashing of their arch-rivals did them a world of good.

The chief architects of the win were midfield maestro Pep Guardiola (Yeah, the same guy who gets into Mourinho’s skin effortlessly!) and hat-trick hero Romario. Guardiola laid the foundation while Romario built his ‘triple-story’ mansion! His first goal was described as “cow’s tail” by the commentators as he rolled the ball behind the defenders and in a flash, the ball was in the net, much to the bewilderment of the Madrid defence.

Watching Romario that night was a treat to the eyes, as he bamboozled the Madrid defence with his trickery and poaching instincts.

Real Madrid 5 – 0 Barcelona (January 7, 1995, Bernabeu)

Laudrup-Sinking the ‘Dream Team’!

Well, the architect of Madrid’s demolition of Barça was Cruyff and his ‘Dream Team’ player, Michael Laudrup. Surprised? Well, don’t be.

One of the architects of previous year’s 5 – 0 drubbing delivered to Real Madrid and an integral part of Cruyff’s ‘Dream Team’ , Michael Laudrup, was sold to Real Madrid after having fallen out with Cruyff. Laudrup got his revenge immediately, though. Exactly 364 days later, Cruyff’s find cost him his job, playing a pivotal role in Real’s win.

The Catalans experienced the ruthlessness of Chilean International Ivan Zamorano who netted thrice within the first 40 minutes to effectively kill the game off. This tie proved to be a crucial juncture in Real’s path to glory as they brought the La Liga title home after a period of Barça’s invincibility. To quote the – then Barça player, Albert Ferrer, in an interview –

“A year later, we went to the Bernabeu and they put five past us too. So, I suppose justice was done. We had done the same to them and it was our turn……Thank God, it was finally over.”

Barcelona 0 – 2 Real Madrid (April 24, 2002, Camp Nou) – Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg

Zidane proved his class again in 2002 CL semiS!

Well, it was a historic day for the Madrid faithful, as they beat Barcelona at Camp Nou, after 19 long years! And what better stage than a Champions League semi-final, to set the record straight. Goals from Zizou and McManaman sealed the victory for the Galacticos after a spell of concerted pressure from the hosts.

The Blaugrana were on top throughout the match, but their finishing lacked the sting and bite to trouble Madrid. Barça were clearly missing the genius of Rivaldo on the field, who was nursing an injury.

Both Zidane and McManaman scored against the flow of play, with Raul initiating the moves. After knocking out their eternal rivals in the semi-final (the second leg ended up 1 – 1), Madrid went on to beat Leverkusen in the final to lift the European Cup an all-time record 9^th time, thus rubbing the Catalans’ noses in the dust.

Real Madrid 0 – 3 Barcelona (November 19, 2005, Santiago Bernabeu)

“19 November 2005: The Day Barcelona Left the Bernabeu to Applause.”

Ronaldinho treated Bernabeu with a Samba flavor!

Marca was right on the money with the headline bearing testimony to the genius of Ronaldinho. Keeping up with the Clasico trend of ‘snubbed’ players coming to haunt the malicious clubs, the Brazilian magician Ronaldinho who was a David Beckham replacement for Barcelona, with the former joining the Galacticos, rose up like a Basilisk at the biggest stage and mesmerized the Bernabeu with his audacious skills and trickery.

He scored a brace with his second goal – one of El Clásico’s all-time greats. Ronaldinho collected the ball on the left wing, waltzed his way past the ‘non-existent’ Ramos and coolly slotted the ball past Casillas. Such was the mettle of the assured performance put in by the European Player of the Year that the Bernabeu gave him a standing ovation.

To quote the man himself (Ronaldinho) –

“Not many players have had a moment quite like that, to get that kind of recognition from a rival like Real Madrid; that was a moment I’ll never forget……something to tell my children and grand-children about.”

Well, if you played like this, your children are bound to have a wide range of anecdotes to hear from, Mr. Ronaldinho!

Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid (March 10, 2007, Camp Nou)

“The day that Messi came of age”

Messi masterminded Barca’s recovery to secure a stalemate!

To produce such a high-octane match when both Madrid and Barça were struggling to find their touch, deserves a praise. Who else than Leo Messi-ah to provide us with the entertainment and a fitting end to a thrilling encounter!

After Capello’s Madrid had taken the lead, with three goals coming in the first quarter of an hour, the game ended up in a pulsating, nerve-wrecking 3 – 3 stalemate. After Barça were reduced to 10 men owing to the sending off of Olegeur Presas, all hopes seemed lost for the hosts with Madrid leading 3 – 2, courtesy a Van Nisterlooy brace. As the match entered injury time, a slick ball from Ronaldinho found Messi on the edge of the box and the diminutive Argentine, with mind-numbing pace and wizardry, pulled a rabbit out of his hat and left the Madrid defence for dead, following it up with a calmly placed shot in the back of the net.

Messi had his hat-trick, Barça had their pride and point intact but the standout feature of the match was Leo Messi’s ability to thrive on the grand stage at a tender age.

Though Barça lost the season to Madrid on worse head-to-head record, they had unearthed a true gem of a player in the form of Messi, who is setting the football stage ablaze till date with his skill-set alongside his composure and maturity.

Fans Chants and Songs…

Barcelona Fans

1. Esto es un chorreo!

Two years ago, former Madrid’s president Vicente Boluda said that Madrid was going to “chorrear” (literally, “to drip”) Liverpool and Barça, meaning that Madrid would beat them soundly, scoring many goals. Liverpool won (4 – 0) and so did Barça (2 – 6) and from then on, the fans have used the word “chorreo” to make fun of Madrid if they lose. It goes like this:

“Eo eo eo! Esto es un chorreo!”

And the translation would be:

“Eo eo eo! This is a thrashing!”

2. 1899 neix el club que porto al cor

1899 (said Mil vuit-cents noranta-nou)

Neix el club que porto al cor

Blaugrana són els colors

Futbol Club Barcelona.

Le, le, le, le-le-le,

le, le, le, le-le-le,

le, le, le, le-le-le

Futbol Club Barcelona

Translation:

1899

Was born the club I carry on my heart

Blue and garnet are its colours

Futbol Club Barcelona

Le, le, le, le-le-le,

le, le, le, le-le-le,

le, le, le, le-le-le

Futbol Club Barcelona

Real Madrid Fans:

Himno del Madrid

De las glorias deportivasque campean por Españava el Madrid con su banderalimpia y blanca que no empaña.Club castizo y generosotodo nervio y corazonveteranos y novelesveteranos y novelesmiran siempre sus laurelescon respeto y emocion.

Hala Madrid, Hala Madrid

Translation:

Of the sports glories,

which fields by Spain

Real Madrid goes with its flag,

clean and white not tarnish.

Club castizo and generous,

every nerve and heart,

veterans and novice,

junior and veterans,

always look its laurels

with respect and emotion.

Hala Madrid! Hala Madrid!

Catalans’ disgruntlement about referees…

Barcelona fans have always felt that Real Madrid, owing to their connections with the centre, have enjoyed a fair share of refereeing decisions going their way, more often than not (lot of Portuguese profanities my way!).

Well, when it’s about Catalonia vs Spain, how can Franco be not involved? It is widely believed that Franco was outraged after Real lost 3-1 to Barcelona in the first leg of the final of the 1943 Copa del Generalissimo. And thus Franco intervened! Before the second leg, Barcelona players got a dressing room visit from the Spanish director of state security, who is reported to have told them “you are only playing because of the generosity of the regime that has forgiven you for your lack of patriotism”. Wisely and to ridicule Franco, Barca rolled over by a whopping score-line of 11-1!

Another lesson of refereeing atrociousness was taught to Barça by Guruceta, a young Basque referee. The case is now remembered as “The Guruceta Case”. Such was the level of biasedness towards Madrid that Barcelona fans provoked a mass riot and pitch invasion. The fans took this myopic view as an attack on their culture and identity.

Current Scenario and Future shades of grey…

The two great managers shall meet again!!

With Barcelona being christened as the “best football team of the generation” having pocketed 3 consecutive La Liga titles alongside 2 gigantic UEFA Champions League titles, the current scenario looks bleak for Madrid. But when it’s El Clásico, history and form take a back-seat as these two teams loathe each other from the very core of their existence.

With Barcelona bagging a ‘sextuple’ in the premier year of charge of their famed player-turned-manager Pep Guardiola, becoming the first club in the history of the game to do so, Real Madrid found solace in the able hands of Football tactician, Jose Mourinho to dig them out of this spot. Notably, the self-christened ‘Special One’ was the mastermind that brought a halt to the Catalan juggernaut in the Champions League semi-final in 2010, with Italian giants, Inter Milan.

The Portuguese mastermind, as always, lured the media with his cheesy comments, thus adding another dimension to the bloody feud between the clubs. In what turned out to be a fan’s dream and a player’s nightmare, Madrid and Barça locked horns a record 4 times during the last campaign, within a span of 18 days. After the humiliating 5 – 0 drubbing his team received at Camp Nou, Mou was able to reclaim some pride by beating Barcelona 1- 0 in the final of Copa del Ray.

But, the two biggest El Clásicos of many a seasons were yet to be played with the giants engaging in a mouth-watering Champions League semi-final clash. As usual, Mou engaged in mind games with counterpart Pep Guardiola, though the latter maintained his composure. To quote Mourinho –

“Up to now we have had two types of coaches. A very small group of coaches who never speak to the referees. After that, there is a bigger group, of whom I am one, who criticise the referees when they make huge errors. But it is also a group who are happy to highlight the good work of the referee.

And now, with the declaration of Pep the other day, we are entering a new era with a third group, which for the moment includes only him, who criticise the correct decision of the referee.”

(referring to Pedro’s correctly disallowed goal in the Copa del Ray final)

The game that ensued turned out to be a mine-field with ill-tempered behaviour oozing from every bit of the field. Barcelona came out trumps with a 2 – 0 win in the ugly and controversy-filled first leg at the Bernabeu, courtesy a well-deserved brace via Messi. But the match will be remembered for the lack of discipline and sportsman conduct shown by the players. Madrid’s Pepe was dismissed after what was perceived as a ‘late lunge’ on Dani Alves. Mourinho and Barça’s reserve goal-keeper Pinto were also given the marching orders. Mourinho was extremely livid and accused UEFA of supporting Barcelona and commented –

“Today it’s clear that against Barcelona you have no chance.“

It was “impossible” for Madrid to defeat the dark forces lined up against them.”

Madrid’s coach accused Barcelona of wielding ‘untouchable power’ in European football and said their coach, Pep Guardiola, should feel “ashamed” if he wins a competition that “yet again” is engulfed in “scandal”.

“One day, I would like Josep Guardiola to win this competition properly.”

(referring to the controversial Barcelona win against Chelsea en route to their triumph in 2009)

“If I tell Uefa what I really think and feel, my career would end now,” Mourinho said. “Instead I will just ask a question to which I hope one day to get a response: Why? Why? Why does a team as good as they are need something [extra] that is so obvious that everyone sees it?”

“It could have been 0-0 tonight, but then suddenly we are down to 10 men and they have a free path to find solutions that they could not find before then: we could have played for three hours and they would not have scored. But today we have seen that it is not difficult – it is impossible.”

“Josep Guardiola is a fantastic coach,” he said, “but I have won two Champions Leagues. He has won [only] one Champions League and that is one that would embarrass me. I would be ashamed to have won it with the scandal of Stamford Bridge and, if he wins it this year, it will be with the scandal of the Bernabéu. I hope that one day he can win a proper Champions League.”

In what might prove to be a giant step for the future course of the rivalry, FC Barcelona reported Mourinho for his “disgraceful post-match comments” after Barcelona beat his team 2-0 in the first leg of the CL semi-final. The Portuguese manager was found guilty and consequently, was suspended for five matches and fined 50,000 euros ($70,700). As a rebuke to Barça’s step, an appeal was filed against Sergio Busquets, who reportedly hurled racist chants at Marcelo, by Real Madrid.

In a latest turn of events, FC Barcelona’s President, Jack Rossell threatened to break all relations with Real Madrid if there was not an imminent change in their behaviour towards the Catalans. Rossell’s end-of-the-season news conference revolved around the bad blood boiling between the eternal rivals and its possible repercussions.

“We believe that this season Real Madrid has gone beyond all the limits of the necessary sporting rivalry, making accusations against our club that have no foundation,” Rosell said.

“The rivalry will continue next season but we will not allow the limits of sporting behaviour to be exceeded again.

“If necessary, we will take legal action and take the case to the relevant sporting tribunals.”

“The news conference that the Real Madrid coach gave after the Champions League semi-final first leg at the Bernabeu shamed anyone who considers themselves an athlete.”

The Catalan club are also furious about a report on Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, which cited an unidentified Real official as its source that suggested Barca’s players and medical staff were engaged in illegal doping.

“Now, it’s up to the President of Real Madrid to reconstitute our relations, on and off the pitch.”

Real Madrid C.F. were quick to respond to the backlash and their official statement made for a worthy reading –

“Real Madrid C.F. regrets the unfortunate statement made today by the President of F.C. Barcelona.

The grave and false insinuations in the speech relating to certain reports on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport, that have nothing to do (neither in origin nor fruition) with Real Madrid C.F., are incomprehensible to us.

It is important to remember that, facing the aforementioned pressure, F.C. Barcelona lodged an astonishing formal complaint against the coach of Real Madrid C.F. at UEFA, something unprecedented in the relations between both clubs.

Despite this unprecedented event and the statement made by the President of F.C. Barcelona, and for the good of football, Real Madrid C.F. will continue to work to have the best relations with F.C. Barcelona, as it always does with every other club from Spain and the rest of world.”

With Barcelona ruling the roost and Real Madrid unwilling to accede to their dynasty, this decade may well turn out to be a defining one in the rivalry we fondly know as ‘El Clásico’. The rivalry has attained astronomical proportions this season with Jose Mourinho’s inclusion in the frame. And when you have the ‘Special One’ involved, you can’t really take the spice out of the lentil curry, now, can you??

PS: Suggestions and valuable feedback will be welcomed with open arms.