El Clasico or also known as El Derbi Espanyol is the name given to the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. These two clubs are the clubs that are loved by many world footballers. Barcelona is in power over the Spanish League, while Real Madrid us a team which is feared on the European Stage. This is why their second meeting is one of the most eagerly awaited matches.
The competition occurs as both of them managed to become the strongest team in the matador country. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are considered as the most influential teams in Spain and even the world. The first El Clasico recorded history took place in 1902. At that time, Madrid and Barca met in a tournament called Copa de la Coronacion. The tournament was held to honor the appointment of King Alfonso XIII who led in Spain. The Copa de la Coronacion itself is not considered as an official tournament at that time and it was only a year later the Spanish Football Federation (FREF) sparked the Copa del Rey.
For additional information, have you ever noticed the Real Madrid logo? If so, then you should find a crown that is mounted stoutly right above the club’s logo. ‘Real’ in the Spanish means Royal, a symbolic crown given by the Spanish leader, King Alfonso XIII, to the pride of the city of Madrid. The decision aroused several titled responses from a number of circles, who judged the king’s actions indicated that Real Madrid, as a club from Spanish capital, always received preferential treatment. It was one of the social jealousy which aroused and caused rivalry with Barcelona.
Back in the first el Clasico, the tournament in 1902 involved four teams namely Bizcaya, currently known as Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Club Espanol or Espanyol. Real Madrid and Barcelona immediately met in the semifinal which took place at Hipodromo, Madrid, on May 13, 1902. In that match, Madrid lost 1-3 to their rivals. A Madrid goal was created by Arthur Johnson, while three goals from Barca were scored by Udo Steinberg who brought two goals and one from Joan Gamper. The match was officially recorded as Madrid and Barca’s first duel in a competition.
The rivalry that arises between Real Madrid and Barcelona is undoubted. El Clasico is one of the biggest matches in the history of the sport for the tight record of the two teams in facing a number of competitions they have ever done.
The beginning of the ‘hot’ rivalry was claimed to have taken place at their fourth meeting in the tournament when Madrid recorded a victory with a single goal but it was peppered with controversy as the goal escaped the line judge’s observation despite being offside. While on the La Liga stage, the first duel took place on February 17th, 1929, at Camp de Les Corts. Madrid booked its first three points with Rafael Morera who becoming the first El Clasico scorer in the Spanish domestic league.
In the span of 1937 to 1939, there was no official competition rolling in Spain, this period made Real Madrid and Barcelona have to postpone the continuation of their rivalry due to the civil war happened in that country of the bull fighter. The war that happened in the country made the rivalry between the two clubs was getting confused. In 1936, general Fransisco Franco had ordered his troops to kill the Barcelona president at that time, Joseph Sunyol I Garriga. The situation was getting hotter and developed into a political rivalry between Madrid and Barcelona.
At that time, football was considered a catalyst in the power of politics and culture of civilization which is often used to fulfill ambitions in power. Even more so when Spain was under the regime of General Franco who proclaimed himself the ruler of Spain.
As time goes by, the rivalry of the two teams is not only peppered with politics. Psychological warfare and the struggle for star players often occur between the two. The most famous transfer competition of players happened during the recruitment of Alfredo Di Stefano. Real Madrid defeated Barcelona by contracting him, and the rest is they won various trophies including five Champions Cups (Champions League).
The exciting thing also happened when Luis Figo was landed at the Santiago Bernabeu by Florentino Perez in 2000. The most recent cases were when Neymar, Andre Gomes, and Dani Ceballos were also contested by the two teams.
The drama of this grand feud continues until now. Until now, Real Madrid and Barcelona have met in 237 competitive matches. In the meeting record, Los Blancos are better that Blaugrana. The Spanish capital club recorded 95 victories over Barcelona. Throughout history, there have been more than 750 players who took part in the tight match. For Real Madrid, Raul Gonzales became the player most often involved in El Clasico by undergoing 31 matches. While Barcelona, Xavi Hernandez became the name that most often appeared with 29 matches.
Lastly, Lionel Messi became the top scorer of all time for El Clasico with 26 goal, beating Di Stefano and Christiano Ronaldo with 18 goals.
