On Sunday, May 11, the iconic ‘El Clásico’ will once again be played between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two teams are neck and neck in a thrilling title race, and dropping points against the archrival could be fatal. However, Real Madrid will need more than just the 3 points to catch up to Barça. Read all about it in this article.
El Clásico
‘The Classic’ is the name given to the matches between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two biggest and most successful football clubs in European history. These matches are also considered the biggest football classics in Spain and even in the world. The duels can also be seen as a political battle between Catalonia’s Barcelona and Madrid, representing the central Spanish government, which adds extra meaning and tension for many fans.
The first ‘El Clásico’ was played on May 13, 1902. Barcelona won that match at home with a score of 3-1. Since then, the teams have played a total of 296 matches, of which 254 were official. The last meeting was only two weeks ago, when the rivals faced off in the final of the Copa del Rey, the Spanish cup. In that thrilling final, Barcelona emerged victorious, although they needed extra time to secure the win.
FC Barcelona
This Catalan powerhouse is one of the most successful clubs in the world. Their stadium is Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe, although it is currently undergoing renovations. The club was founded on November 29, 1899, and its team colors are blue and garnet. Over its history, Barça has won the Spanish Primera División 27 times and the Copa del Rey 31 times. In Europe, they have won the Champions League 5 times and the FIFA Club World Cup 3 times. The IFFHS named Barcelona the best club in the world over the period 1991–2000.
Barcelona is having a stellar season once again. The team is currently leading La Liga with a 4-point advantage over Real Madrid and just 4 matches left to play. They also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, narrowly losing to Inter Milan. To make their season a success, they must now hold onto their lead in the Spanish title race.
FC Barcelona is managed by Hansi Flick. The former German professional player coached Bayern Munich to all possible club titles and was part of Germany’s World Cup-winning team as assistant coach. After his dismissal from the national team, he joined Barcelona. There, he trains players such as Sergi Roberto, Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, and Gavi. The team’s top scorer is Robert Lewandowski, with 40 goals, followed by Raphinha with 31.
Real Madrid
As one of two clubs from the Spanish capital, along with Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid is also one of the best teams in the world. The club was founded on March 6, 1902, and plays home games in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid traditionally wears white, with this season’s away kits being gold and black. The team has won La Liga 36 times, the Copa del Rey 20 times, and the Champions League 15 times. With those 15 victories, they hold the record for most wins in the competition, ahead of Italy’s AC Milan with 7. FIFA named Real Madrid the best football club of the 20th century.
Unlike Barcelona, Real Madrid did not make it to the semi-finals of the Champions League this year. They faced Arsenal in the quarter-finals and were clearly outplayed at the Emirates Stadium. Los Blancos couldn’t overcome the 3-0 deficit in the return leg at the Bernabéu, losing that match as well, 1-2. It was a tough loss for the record-holding Champions League winners, and now they will go all out to win the Spanish title.
Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti can field a world-class team, featuring Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and French star Kylian Mbappé. Mbappé also scored the most goals for the team this season: 35 in 51 matches. Other key players include Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Endrick.
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