Few matches hold as much significance as a duel between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Perhaps more than any other clash, “El Grande Clasico” warms the cockles of any football fan on a cold winters evening.
The song “Two Tribes” by Frankie Goes to Holiday axiomatically springs to mind. Indeed, the two Spanish giants trade punches like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier did in the “Thriller in Manilla”.
El Clasico Barcelona v Real Madrid
Barcelona, now being managed by former player Pep Guardiola, are, as of 2010, the reigning Spanish, European and World champions.
In 2009 La Blaugrana, amassed an almighty six trophies and had striker Lionel Messi crowned FIFA World Player of The Year.
Real Madrid on the other hand are the most successful club on the European stage having bagged a record nine European Cups and 31 La Liga crowns.
Amidst controversial transfers, splendid goals and profuse poundings, here are five modern day classic “El derbi’s” between the pair.
Real Madrid 5-0 Barcelona, January 7th, 1995
A match no Real Madrid fan will want to be forgetting in a hurry. After witnessing Barcelona bag four consecutive league crowns under coach Johan Cruyff, Los Blancos were desperate to halt the Catalan monopoly. Alas, on January 7th, 1995, Madrid tore into the champions in swashbuckling style.
An Ivan Zamorano hat-trick coupled with goals by Luis Enrique and Jose Amavisca sealed a historic 5-0 win for Real.
The result also signalled the beginning of the end for the Barcelona “Dream Team” era.
Barcelona 0-2 Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, 2002
The match between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the 2002 UEFA Champions League semi-final 1st leg took on much more significance being the first ever time the pair had faced each other in Europe’s elite competition.
With tensions at an all-time high it was Madrid who came out on top courtesy of goals by Steve McManaman and an exquisite lob by Zinedine Zidane.
Los Blancos would then go on to beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the final at Hampden Park to lift their record-breaking ninth European cup.
Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona, November 19th, 2005
One man stole the show in this historic showdown – Ronaldinho. The Brazilian would score two unforgettable goals, both being lung-busting runs from deep in the Real Madrid half, taking on the entire Real backline before smashing home with glee.
Furthermore, “Dinho” would become the first player since a certain Diego Maradona to be applauded off by the Real fans.
Not only would the 29 year-old go on to be crowned the 2005 FIFA World Player of The Year, Barca would also go on to bag a league and Champions League double.
Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid, March 10th, 2007
With both sides neck-and-neck in the league, pundits in Spain saw this clash in March 2007 as a potential title-decider.
Alas, it was not, but the match turned out to be a six-goal epic most notably remembered for Lionel Messi’s simply sizzling hat-trick.
After falling behind not once, nor twice, but three times, the Catalans roared back through striker Lionel Messi. After Real defender Sergio Ramos headed Los Blancos ahead for the third time with just over ten minutes left to play, Madrid looked set for a famous win over their mortal enemies.
However, with literally seconds left on the clock Messi seized on a through pass by Ronaldinho, evaded a last ditch tackle and buried the equaliser and his hat-trick in the process.
The Argentine thus affirmed his status as a truly world-class player as the world itself drew its breath.
Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona, May 2nd, 2009
If there is such a thing as “perfect football”, then most football fans would point to Real Madrid v Barcelona in May 2009 as the apotheosis of this perfection.
Cataclysmic and earth-shaking was the word asPep Guardiola’s men gave Real the proverbial "bath" in a match which had Los Cules fans in raptures.
Despite falling behind to Gonzalo Higuain’s early header, two goals by Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, and further strikes by Gerard Pique and captain Carles Puyol sealed a monumental win for Barca.
The title “El Grande Clasico” lived up to its billing such was the victory – a grand classic.
Author Sunil S.
Perhaps more than any other clash, “El Grande Clasico” warms the cockles of any football fan on a cold winters evening.
The song “Two Tribes” by Frankie Goes to Holiday axiomatically springs to mind. Indeed, the two Spanish giants trade punches like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier did in the “Thriller in Manilla”.
El Clasico Barcelona v Real Madrid
Barcelona, now being managed by former player Pep Guardiola, are, as of 2010, the reigning Spanish, European and World champions.
In 2009 La Blaugrana, amassed an almighty six trophies and had striker Lionel Messi crowned FIFA World Player of The Year.
Real Madrid on the other hand are the most successful club on the European stage having bagged a record nine European Cups and 31 La Liga crowns.
Amidst controversial transfers, splendid goals and profuse poundings, here are five modern day classic “El derbi’s” between the pair.
Real Madrid 5-0 Barcelona, January 7th, 1995
A match no Real Madrid fan will want to be forgetting in a hurry. After witnessing Barcelona bag four consecutive league crowns under coach Johan Cruyff, Los Blancos were desperate to halt the Catalan monopoly. Alas, on January 7th, 1995, Madrid tore into the champions in swashbuckling style.
An Ivan Zamorano hat-trick coupled with goals by Luis Enrique and Jose Amavisca sealed a historic 5-0 win for Real.
The result also signalled the beginning of the end for the Barcelona “Dream Team” era.
Barcelona 0-2 Real Madrid, UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, 2002
The match between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the 2002 UEFA Champions League semi-final 1st leg took on much more significance being the first ever time the pair had faced each other in Europe’s elite competition.
With tensions at an all-time high it was Madrid who came out on top courtesy of goals by Steve McManaman and an exquisite lob by Zinedine Zidane.
Los Blancos would then go on to beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 in the final at Hampden Park to lift their record-breaking ninth European cup.
Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona, November 19th, 2005
One man stole the show in this historic showdown – Ronaldinho. The Brazilian would score two unforgettable goals, both being lung-busting runs from deep in the Real Madrid half, taking on the entire Real backline before smashing home with glee.
Furthermore, “Dinho” would become the first player since a certain Diego Maradona to be applauded off by the Real fans.
Not only would the 29 year-old go on to be crowned the 2005 FIFA World Player of The Year, Barca would also go on to bag a league and Champions League double.
Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid, March 10th, 2007
With both sides neck-and-neck in the league, pundits in Spain saw this clash in March 2007 as a potential title-decider.
Alas, it was not, but the match turned out to be a six-goal epic most notably remembered for Lionel Messi’s simply sizzling hat-trick.
After falling behind not once, nor twice, but three times, the Catalans roared back through striker Lionel Messi. After Real defender Sergio Ramos headed Los Blancos ahead for the third time with just over ten minutes left to play, Madrid looked set for a famous win over their mortal enemies.
However, with literally seconds left on the clock Messi seized on a through pass by Ronaldinho, evaded a last ditch tackle and buried the equaliser and his hat-trick in the process.
The Argentine thus affirmed his status as a truly world-class player as the world itself drew its breath.
Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona, May 2nd, 2009
If there is such a thing as “perfect football”, then most football fans would point to Real Madrid v Barcelona in May 2009 as the apotheosis of this perfection.
Cataclysmic and earth-shaking was the word asPep Guardiola’s men gave Real the proverbial "bath" in a match which had Los Cules fans in raptures.
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Despite falling behind to Gonzalo Higuain’s early header, two goals by Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, and further strikes by Gerard Pique and captain Carles Puyol sealed a monumental win for Barca.
The title “El Grande Clasico” lived up to its billing such was the victory – a grand classic.
Author Sunil S.
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