FC Barcelona vs Real Madrid -El Clasico Rivalry.
El Clasico
The Story of the Rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid
The rivalry comes about as Madrid and Barcelona are the two largest cities in Spain, and they are sometimes identified with opposing political positions, with Real Madrid viewed as representing Spanish nationalism and Barcelona viewed as representing Catalan nationalism.
It is considered one of the biggest club football games in the world, and is among the most viewed annual sporting events. It has always been a heated match, from both sides.
Political background:
The rivalry between the the two most successful clubs in football started with an oft-ignored political backstory and contrasts in how both clubs were made.
FC Barcelona was founded by --> Joan Gamper along with several foreign-born players in 1899.
Real Madrid was founded by -->Spaniards at the helm in 1902.
Madrid had been long considered as the political and social center of Spain. Regional rivalries would be generated due to the nation’s focus on Madrid, which geographically was also in the center of Spain.
Political background:
The rivalry between the the two most successful clubs in football started with an oft-ignored political backstory and contrasts in how both clubs were made.
FC Barcelona was founded by --> Joan Gamper along with several foreign-born players in 1899.
Real Madrid was founded by -->Spaniards at the helm in 1902.
Madrid had been long considered as the political and social center of Spain. Regional rivalries would be generated due to the nation’s focus on Madrid, which geographically was also in the center of Spain.
1902-1928:
 |
| Alfonso-XIII (king of spain in -1902) |
When the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, came of age in 1902, Madrid hosted a tournament and invited FC Barcelona and Basque club Vizcaya.
Barcelona defeated Real Madrid, then known as Madrid FC 3-1, but fell to the Basques in the final 2-1.
However, all the attention came from the tournament organizers when they noticed the tournament to celebrate a Castilian monarch came down to a Catalan club and a Basque club in the final. So they quickly arranged a “third-place match.” The series between the clubs would continue for a decade, with the Catalans victorious in most of the contests. The rivalry would begin to pick up its’ competitive embers in 1905.
1928-1940:
The Spanish Primera Division was founded in 1929, with ten teams. Barcelona hosted Real Madrid in the second round of the new league, with the visitors prevailing 2-1. The Catalan club would repay the favor with a 1-0 win in Madrid, and would win the league. Despite Real Madrid’s two titles in the early days of the league, it was Athletic Bilbao that was the strongest team in Spain in the years leading into the Spanish Civil War.
Real Madrid had to wait until the 1931-32 season to win their first Liga, which they repeated in 1932-33.
The 1934-35 season left two historic Clásico results - the first 5-0 victory by Barcelona over Madrid was returned later in the season when the madrileños beat the Catalans 8-2.
To be perfectly honest, throughout the 1930s, Madrid were the better team and this was possibly why the FC Barcelona board didn't allow them to participate in the Campionat de Catalunya after the Liga and the Campeonato Regional Centro were suspended due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
The 1934-35 season left two historic Clásico results - the first 5-0 victory by Barcelona over Madrid was returned later in the season when the madrileños beat the Catalans 8-2.
To be perfectly honest, throughout the 1930s, Madrid were the better team and this was possibly why the FC Barcelona board didn't allow them to participate in the Campionat de Catalunya after the Liga and the Campeonato Regional Centro were suspended due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
The war raged from 1936 to 1939, and was the major factor in shaping the rivalry as we see it today. General Francisco Franco successfully staged a coup and captured Madrid in 1939 to end the war. Since Barcelona bitterly fought Franco's policies, he held a particular anger against that region, often resorting to murder or torture to get his point across - that a different culture and society under his rule would not be tolerated.
The two sides didn't meet again until the end of the Civil War when La Liga began again in the 1939-40 season.
Now, football was growing as an outlet of the people's views and sentiments. Hence, the people of Catalonia started supporting FC Barcelona in hordes, just to show that they are united in their hatred of General Franco, and to celebrate their unique culture and languages. In fact, FC Barcelona became “mes que un club,” more than a club, to Catalans as well as to progressives and left-leaning Spaniards across the country.
1940-1950:
 |
| Francisco Franco in 1964 |
The Political Situation Exacerbates the Rivalry.
With Spain under Franco's dictatorship, FC Barcelona was particularly affected as the club was forced to remove all signs of its Catalan identity including the Catalan flag from its crest as well as to change its name to Club de Fútbol Barcelona.
The effects of the politicisation of Spanish football were first seen on the pitch in the 1942-43 season, in which Real Madrid dominated La Liga with a 5-5 draw in Les Corts and a 3-0 victory in Chamartín.
In the semi-final of La Copa in 1943, now called La Copa del Generalísimo, the first leg was played in Les Corts and Barcelona won 3-0.
In the semi-final of La Copa in 1943, now called La Copa del Generalísimo, the first leg was played in Les Corts and Barcelona won 3-0.
Following the game, the Madrid press accused the Barcelona supporters of jeering and booing the Madrid players and the CF Barcelona president of the time, Enrique Piñeyro Queralt, sent a letter to the Madrid board denying the accusation.
However, the regime imposed a fine of 2,500 pesetas on Barcelona and a hostile reception was expected for the Catalans for the return leg in Madrid in what has become known as the Scandal of Chamartín.
Before the game, the Head of National Security went into the Barcelona dressing room and threatened the players, telling them that winning the game would be considered an act of treason.
On the pitch, the Barcelona players were jeered and booed and stones were even thrown at the Barcelona goalkeeper whilst the referee just let play go on.
Barcelona lost the match by 11 goals to 1 and president Enrique Piñeyro, who had actually been appointed by the government, ended up resigning as a result.
In successive years, Barcelona beat Madrid 5-0 and also suffered a 6-1 defeat and the decade ended with both teams winning ten games each.
Overall, the 1940s were a better period for CF Barcelona, who won three Ligas and a Copa del Generalísimo, whilst Real Madrid won two Copas and no Ligas.
Both sides also won a Copa Eva Duarte, the predecessor of the Spanish Supercopa, played between the Liga champions and the Copa winners.
Before the game, the Head of National Security went into the Barcelona dressing room and threatened the players, telling them that winning the game would be considered an act of treason.
On the pitch, the Barcelona players were jeered and booed and stones were even thrown at the Barcelona goalkeeper whilst the referee just let play go on.
Barcelona lost the match by 11 goals to 1 and president Enrique Piñeyro, who had actually been appointed by the government, ended up resigning as a result.
In successive years, Barcelona beat Madrid 5-0 and also suffered a 6-1 defeat and the decade ended with both teams winning ten games each.
Overall, the 1940s were a better period for CF Barcelona, who won three Ligas and a Copa del Generalísimo, whilst Real Madrid won two Copas and no Ligas.
Both sides also won a Copa Eva Duarte, the predecessor of the Spanish Supercopa, played between the Liga champions and the Copa winners.
1950-1960:
The Di Stefano signing:
As if the War wasn't enough, the battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid for the signature of Alfredo Di Stéfano took the rivalry to new heights. In 1953, Di Stefano had been plying his trade in Colombia for Millionarios when he was spotted by both Spanish clubs. He actually belonged to the Argentine club River Plate, but was on loan to the Colombians due to a player’s strike in Argentina.
Both clubs sent emissaries to sign him, and after long and protracted negotiations, FIFA ruled that FC Barcelona would sign Di Stefano. Here is where the government in the form of the Spanish Football Federation stepped in - they banned the signing of any foreign player in Spain, allowing Real to swoop in and agree a deal with Di Stefano. This led to an impasse, which was resolved when the Spanish Federation ruled that Di Stefano would be allowed to play four years in Spain, two for Barcelona and two for Real.
Barcelona though, backed out of this deal (supposedly on the orders of their Franco-backed president), which allowed Real Madrid to become the sole owner of Di Stefano. The rest,as they say, is history, as he led Real Madrid to 8 league titles, but more importantly, 5 consecutive European crowns, leaving Barcelona in their wake. This left more than a bitter taste in FC Barcelona's fans' mouth.
Both clubs sent emissaries to sign him, and after long and protracted negotiations, FIFA ruled that FC Barcelona would sign Di Stefano. Here is where the government in the form of the Spanish Football Federation stepped in - they banned the signing of any foreign player in Spain, allowing Real to swoop in and agree a deal with Di Stefano. This led to an impasse, which was resolved when the Spanish Federation ruled that Di Stefano would be allowed to play four years in Spain, two for Barcelona and two for Real.
Barcelona though, backed out of this deal (supposedly on the orders of their Franco-backed president), which allowed Real Madrid to become the sole owner of Di Stefano. The rest,as they say, is history, as he led Real Madrid to 8 league titles, but more importantly, 5 consecutive European crowns, leaving Barcelona in their wake. This left more than a bitter taste in FC Barcelona's fans' mouth.
1970-1980:
The Arrival of Cruff and the Death of Franco
Over the years, the contrasts on how the two teams operated became apparent, yet very effective. As Real Madrid had a very business-based approach, affording to lure and buy players to play for them, FC Barcelona nurtured and developed their players through their system. When Dutch superstar Johan Cruyff joined Barcelona from Ajax for a then-world record $2 million, he would help win Barcelona’s first La Liga title since 1960, including an emphatic 5-0 road victory at Madrid. A product of the “total football” style of play in his native Netherlands, Cruyff help meld a playing style that Barcelona would be known for even today.
After Franco’s death in 1975, the political state of Spain would be restored, but the fiery passion shared by both clubs continued.
The Greatest Clubs in History (2000-10):
As part of the Millenium celebrations, FIFA designated Real Madrid as the Best Club of the 20th century whilst the International Federation of Football History & Statistics voted the club Best European Club.
FC Barcelona came fourth and third, respectively, in the two rankings.
FC Barcelona came fourth and third, respectively, in the two rankings.
Real Madrid won La Liga in 2000-01 and 2002-03 but with the arrival of Ronaldinho in 2003 another golden period began at Camp Nou and FC Barcelona won two consecutive Ligas in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
In 2006, Barça also won their second Champions League beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Stade de France in Paris.
In 2006-07 and 2007-08, FC Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard lost its touch and the Ligas went to Real Madrid.
In 2006, Barça also won their second Champions League beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Stade de France in Paris.
In 2006-07 and 2007-08, FC Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard lost its touch and the Ligas went to Real Madrid.
In 2008, the young and inexperienced Pep Guardiola took over a Barcelona side that was soon to be led by a young Leo Messi with a supporting comprising some of the finest players in the world, including Xavi, Iniesta, Piqué and Busquets amongst others.
In 2009, Guardiola's Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the third Champions League against Manchester United at Wembley in the 2008-09 season and by Christmas had also won The Spanish Supercopa, the European Super Cup and the FIFA Clubs World Cup becoming the side the first to win all six possible trophies in a calendar year.
Along the way there was a notable 2-6 victory in El Clásico over Real Madrid, which was followed a season later with another 5-0 drubbing.
As a result, according to IFFHS, FC Barcelona officially became the best club of the first decade of the 21st century, much to the chagrin of the madridistas.
In 2009, Guardiola's Barcelona won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the third Champions League against Manchester United at Wembley in the 2008-09 season and by Christmas had also won The Spanish Supercopa, the European Super Cup and the FIFA Clubs World Cup becoming the side the first to win all six possible trophies in a calendar year.
Along the way there was a notable 2-6 victory in El Clásico over Real Madrid, which was followed a season later with another 5-0 drubbing.
As a result, according to IFFHS, FC Barcelona officially became the best club of the first decade of the 21st century, much to the chagrin of the madridistas.
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