The History of EL Clasico

El Clásico. No two words can get a handle on the games world's consideration like a matchup among the greatest superpowers in worldwide football.

Genuine Madrid and FC Barcelona makes partitions among social classes and political positions in the midst of a foundation of a Civil War-torn past. The two biggest urban areas in Spain, the national capital Madrid, and Barcelona, the capital of the Catalan district looking for autonomy are the essential urban areas of a derby that is seen by almost 400 million individuals around the globe.

New history is made each time these adversaries venture on the field with probably the best players on the planet playing to demonstrate their abilities and lead their group to triumph.

AN ABRIDGED HISTORY OF EL CLÁSICO 

The contention between the two best clubs in football began with an oft-disregarded political backstory and differences in how the two clubs were made. FC Barcelona was established by Joan Gamper alongside a few outside conceived players in 1899, as Madrid had its club established with Spaniards in charge in 1902. Madrid had been for some time considered as the political and social focal point of Spain. Territorial contentions would be created because of the country's emphasis on Madrid, which topographically was additionally in the focal point of Spain.

At the point when the King of Spain, Alfonso XIII, grew up in 1902, Madrid facilitated a competition and welcomed FC Barcelona and Basque club Vizcaya. Barcelona crushed Real Madrid, at that point known as Madrid FC 3-1, yet tumbled to the Basques in the last 2-1. Notwithstanding, all the consideration originated from the competition coordinators when they saw the competition to praise a Castilian ruler came down to a Catalan club and a Basque club in the last. So they immediately orchestrated a "third-put match." The arrangement between the clubs would proceed for 10 years, with the Catalans triumphant in the vast majority of the challenges. The contention would start to get its focused ashes in 1905.

The Spanish Primera Division was established in 1929, with ten groups. Barcelona facilitated Real Madrid in the second round of the new class, with the guests winning 2-1. The Catalan club would reimburse the support with a 1-0 win in Madrid, and would win the association. In spite of Real Madrid's two titles in the beginning of the group, it was Athletic Bilbao that was the most grounded group in Spain in the years driving into the Spanish Civil War.

FC Barcelona was viewed as the image of the Catalan individuals by the centralist government during the 1930s. Military general Francisco Franco, embittered with the changing political atmosphere in Spain with the fall of the government, organized a Coup d'état in 1936, prompting a bleeding Civil War triumph for his Nationalist side in 1939. One of the most punctual setbacks was of then-FC Barcelona president Josep Sunyol, who was executed without preliminary by Francoist powers.

• Great El Clasico Matches

El Clasico was originally the name applied on to the Barcelona vs Real Madrid matches in La Liga but the term has been broadened to include matches in the Copa del Ray, UEFA Champions League of any other competition.

Needless to say, some great matches have been played over the year and Soccer365 gives our list of some of the most memorable.

• Real Madrid 1 – 3 Barcelona (May 13, 1902)

The inaugural El Clasico was played on May 13, 1902. This match was a friendly and played 27 years before the establishment of the La Liga championship in 1929 so not official an ‘El Clasico’ match. Barcelona founder Joan Gamper scored in the match.

• Real Madrid 11 – 1 Barcelona (June 13, 1943)

Politics to some degree have played their part in making Barcelona and Real Madrid the teams they are but this match took those connections to a new (unacceptable) level. Barca took the first leg in the Cope Del Generalisimo (now the Copa del Rey) 3-0 but were rumored to have been advised ahead of the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu how displeased General Franco would be if Real’s honor was not kept. Barca fans were not allowed to go the game and the home side heckled and threw coins and other objects at the Barca players. After 30 minutes, Real was up 2-0. They added another 6 before halftime. Real Madrid rarely mentions this match as it was never really a game.

• Real Madrid 5 – 0 Barcelona (October 25, 1953)

Real Madrid and Barcelona battled off the field for the signature of Alfredo di Stefano. The Argentine signed with Barca but ended up at Real with controversy and conspiracy theories following him to Real. Two weeks after signing it became apparent why both clubs wanted him as he scored 2 goals to defeat Barce on the way to helping Real to their first league title in 21 years.

• Real Madrid 0 – 5 Barcelona (February 17, 1974)

Johan Cruyff is a legend and part of that history was written while at Barcelona. The newly acquired Cruyff made an immediate impact on El Clasico hitting 1 goal and assisting on 3 others as Barca ran away with a 5-0 win. It was a catalyst to the side going on to claim their first La Liga title in 14 years.

• Barcelona 2 – 2 Real Madrid (October 13, 1999)

Raul is a club legend for Real Madrid. The forward held the club’s all-time goalscoring record with 323 goals before Cristiano Ronaldo overtook him. He single-handily took care of matters at the Camp Nou on October 13, 1999 scoring a brace in the draw. The equalizer came in the 86th minute and Raul’s quiet celebration, putting his finger to his lips with the silenio gesture, said it all. It is an iconic moment and image from the rivalry.

• Barcelona 0 – 2 Real Madrid (April 23, 2002)

This was the first El Clasico in Europe since the 2 sides meet in first round of the 1960/61 Champions League/European Cup. After surviving the first half dominated by the home side, Real Madrid grabbed the advantage in the second half with goals from Zinedine Zidane and Steve McManaman. The win was the first at the Camp Nou in 19 years. Real advanced to the UEFA Champions League final and defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to win their 9th European Cup/UEFA Champions League title.

• Barcelona 0 – 0 Real Madrid (November 23, 2002)

The match itself was not that spectacular as the final scoreline indicated but the soap opera circus surrounding the match made headlines and gave the derby unique monikers, with Spanish paper Marca calling it the ‘derby of shame’ while AS headlined it ‘Bronx Nou.’ The most exiting event that took place on the pitch was when a suckling pig’s head, a cochinillo, was tossed on the field.

And all the hoopla was to welcome back former Barca player, Luis Figo, who had shocked Blaugrana fans when he made a world record transfer to Real Madrid in 2000. It was Figo’s second match against Barca at the Camp Nou and 2 years after his transfer but fans, media, and even the players were not ready to welcome Figo in the white of Real.

Figo was the first marquee signing after Florentino Perez’ was elected Real Madrid president and started to build his Galactico team.

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

Ronaldinho was well on his way to the Ballon d’Or title but this displayed sealed the award for the Brazilian. Ronaldinho made the Real Madrid defense disappear as he scored the 2nd and 3rd goals in the 3-0 win. After his second goal the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu gave Ronaldinho a standing ovation.

A decade later he shared what the moment meant to him telling FourFourTwo, “I am very proud. When it happened I barely noticed what was happening. I just scored and celebrated. As far as I know, only Maradona got that, too, in Madrid. I was twice as happy to know my hero in football was the last to have that honour at the Bernabeu.”

• Barcelona 3 – 3 Real Madrid (March 10, 2007)

Lionel Messi is no doubt on of the best players to ever play in El Clasico and is one of only 2 players (along with Real Madrid’s Ferenc Puskas) to score 2 hat tricks in El Clasico. The then 19-year-old was a thorn in the side of Real all-day with goals in the 10th and 27th minute before stealing a point for the 10-man Barca with the equalizer in the 88th minute. Messi’s other El Clasico hat trick came in a 4-3 Barcelona win on March 23, 2014.

• Real Madrid 4 – 1 Barcelona (May 7, 2008)

The Pasillo (Honor Guard) is a soccer tradition where the players of a team applaud the league winners as they take the pitch. This last happened at an El Clasico in 2008 with Barcelona players paying tribute to the league winners. It was not a happy moment for the Barca players. Real Madrid showed why they were league champions running away with the 4-1 win. Real was paced by Raul, Arjen Robben, Gonzalo Higuain, and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

• Real Madrid 2 – 6 Barcelona (May 2, 2009)

Barcelona made a statement handing Real Madrid their worst home defeat with the 2-6 final scoreline. It marked the first time an away side hit 6 in El Clasico. Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry both knocked in a brace. The match was just one shining moment in what is arguably the best season ever for any soccer team. Barcelona won every competition (La Liga, Cope del Rey, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club Word Cup) they entered.

• Real Madrid 0 – 2 Barcelona (April 27, 2011)

After losing to Real Madrid in the 2002 Champions League semifinal, Barcelona got redemption 9 years later. The first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu was the critical match with Lionel Messi scoring both goals on the way to an insurmountable lead ahead of the 2nd leg. Messi capped off the game with one of his best goals in El Clasico weaving through the Real defense from midfield before slotting home from 6 yards out.

• Real Madrid 3 – 4 Barcelona (March 23, 2014)

The 2 La Liga heavyweights lined up believing that the winner was headed for another title but the script did not play out that way. The match went back-and-forth but the difference was Messi and his hat trick. The tallies made him the all-time leading goalscorer in the El Clasico. The league title, however, went to Real’s crosstown rival, Atletico Madrid.

• Real Madrid 2 – 1 – Barcelona (April 16, 2014)

Gareth Bale highlighted why Real made him a world record signing when he put a ball past Barca’s Marc Bartra while making his run yards outside the touchline to outpace the defender and knock the ball through Jose Pinto’s legs to take the Cope del Rey title.