Real Madrid vs. Barcelona: A Classic Battle
With the 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League nearing a close, the eyes and ears of soccer are focused on the Spain and its two superstar teams: Real Madrid and Barcelona. Through the magic of scheduling and the playoff bracket nature of the Champions League, these two behemoths are in the midst of four games in the span of 18 days. These games between the two teams, historically named the Clásico, provide some of the finest examples of soccer in the world.
The first, this past Saturday, saw a cautious and rigid Real Madrid hold the Blaugrana to a 1-1 draw. Both goals came from penalties coolly scored by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This match was arguably the least important of the four, considering Barcelona’s nearly runaway lead in the table. Unfortunately for Madrid fans, the draw all but sealed Barca’s third straight capture of La Liga, the Spanish Premier League. The next match will be for the Copa Del Rey, the secondary competition in Spanish soccer, while the last two will decide a two- legged Champions League semi-final. Barcelona is chasing the coveted treble of the Copa Del Rey, the La Liga title and the Champions League crown.
The scope and length of the rivalry is comparable to rivalries like the Red Sox and the Yankees or the Celtics and the Lakers. Since 1902, the clubs have played the Clásico over 200 times, with over 80 wins for each team and over 40 ties. Memorable recent Clásicos such as the 3-3 draw in March 2007 or the 4-2 Real win in April 2005 have featured some of the biggest names in football such as Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo and David Beckham.
Since its inception, El Clásico has featured some of the greatest football in the world. These past few years are no exception. The two brightest stars in the matchup are Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi is the winner of the World Footballer of the Year award for the past two years and is arguably the best player in the world today. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, is the world’s most expensive player. In 2009, Ronaldo was traded from Champions League semifinalist Manchester United to Real Madrid for a record fee of $130 million.
For the uninitiated, Barcelona is simply football at its best. It is a beautiful, intricate passing game crafted by three of the world’s greatest stars: Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Messi. To put things into perspective, six of the 11 players in the Spanish National Team’s starting lineup are or were Barcelona players. Four of the other five are from Madrid.
Predictions and any possible author bias aside (ahem) Real Madrid, with the beautiful play of its stars Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, is sure to pose a challenge for the Copa Del Rey competition and the Champions League. With the two legs scheduled for April 27th and May 3rd, be sure to catch the spectacle provided by the two Clásicos at your local favorite bar.
Join the Discussion