Last Thursday Barcelona and Real Madrid faced off in the first El Clasico of the 2012/13 season in order to contest the Spanish Super Cup trophy. The game played over two legs, initially in Barcelona at the Camp Nou has set up a very good second leg. This match is set to be played at the Bernabeu and promises a-lot. Barcelona have started the season strongly with a win in their first league game. Real Madrid struggled against Valencia and were fortunate to get away with a draw. Their team looks a bit short of fitness and sharpness. The Barca vs Real game had a slow start, not too much happened in the first. However, the game really came to life in the second. Real Madrid started the strongest and a fantastic cross from a corner by Ozil set up Ronaldo for an inch perfect header. A good goal but poor defending on Barca's part allowing Ronaldo in unmarked. Barcelona ramped it up a good few gears and were really punishing a flagging Real side. They had scored just minutes after Real through a counter attack- the scorer Alexis Sanchez. Real gave themselves some trouble when Ramos clumsily brought Iniesta down in the box. Penalty it was and Messi slotted it with ease. Barcelona looked relentless and Pedro added another. Fresh legs in Fabregas and Tello came on. Barcelona continued to threaten and were denied by the post in very awkward circumstances for Casillas and Arbeloa (who opted to chest it in the box). A fantastic bit of play forced an astonishing save from Iker Casillas and had that gone in, it would have put Barca 4-1 up. But things can change in the blink of an eye in a game. At the opposite end of the pitch Di Maria's pressing payed off when he took advantage of an error by Valdes. Di Maria put pressure on the keeper (who took a touch too many) and suceeded in scoring- what a soft goal to give away. Iniesta was the most outstanding player on the pitch, some of his touches were quality and his quick feet seen him dance around players and skip passed challenges. Casillas and Arbeloa were excellent for Madrid. Ramos had some good moments but in his unnecessary rashness, he gave away a pen and there could have been another in the first half. Pass of the game, was by Alonso right from one end of the pitch to the other. Absolutely stunning accuracy. It was unfortunate that Ozil couldn't control and capitalise from it but what a pass it was. The game excitingly finished 3-2 which means that it is all to play for on Wednesday. This past weekends matches were made hard work of for both sides. Barcelona struggled against Osasuna and were lucky to win, well lucky in as much as Messi means goals! Real Madrid suffered a loss away to Getafe- they will surely be looking to make up for that and what better game to do that than vs their most bitterest of rivals.
There have been a-lot of El Clasico games in the past two seasons and the fixture always attracts global attention. Fierce affairs, due to the strong rivalry between the sides. In a very two sided league the individual battles between the pair have even more significance. To locals, the game is everything and to the players it is personal. Even watching there is a sort of love hate conflict going on, an envy of some of the players on show on one hand and on the other some of the cheating/poor gamesmanship on show is quite the other. To get properly in the mood for the latest instalment, I aim to share my four favourite/most memorable encounters of the Real and Barcelona kind!
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1. Real Madrid vs Barcelona- League (2005/06)
One mans name springs to mind right away when thinking of this match and that man is Ronaldinho. What is there not to love about a game that featured the party tricking wonder player at his best, along with an eighteen year old Messi, Zidane, Ronaldo, Casillas- the list is endless. A-lot of talent on the pitch for both sides. It was a resounding win in the end for Barcelona who put three passed Real. What a fantastically brilliant player Ronaldinho was, so vibrant, individual and skillful. Loved watching him, such unbridled joy to see a player so imaginative and unshackled. The Madrid faithful gave him a standing ovation for his efforts!
2. Real Madrid vs Barcelona- League (2008/09)
A drubbing from Barcelona and at the Bernabeu too. In excellent form Real Madrid had gone 18 games unbeaten, drawing only one of them. Real took an early lead through Higuan. Thierry Henry had an excellent game, he scored twice and was unlucky to be brought off due to a knock picked up. One of the best matches I have seen from him, he gave Sergio Ramos a real torrid time. Barcelona were relentless and their quality outstanding- they could have scored ten. It was a season that Barcelona did the unthinkable in winning everything, a team out of this world.
3. Barcelona vs Real Madrid- League (2004/05)
Six years without a title and an injury ridden season, things were starting to look up for Barcelona. That season they made some good signings including Henrik Larsson from Celtic and also Samuel Eto'o. In April they travelled to the Bernabeu to play Real and were beaten 4-2 in what was an excellent match. The game ebbed and flowed, there were key battles on the pitch including Zidane vs Ronaldinho. The game had superstars galore in Carlos, Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo, Owen and Raul. A pure all out attacking game which had chance after chance at both ends of the pitch. Raul, Owen, Zidane and Ronaldo all scored for Madrid. Ronaldinho and Eto'o scoring for Barcelona.
Six years without a title and an injury ridden season, things were starting to look up for Barcelona. That season they made some good signings including Henrik Larsson from Celtic and also Samuel Eto'o. In April they travelled to the Bernabeu to play Real and were beaten 4-2 in what was an excellent match. The game ebbed and flowed, there were key battles on the pitch including Zidane vs Ronaldinho. The game had superstars galore in Carlos, Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo, Owen and Raul. A pure all out attacking game which had chance after chance at both ends of the pitch. Raul, Owen, Zidane and Ronaldo all scored for Madrid. Ronaldinho and Eto'o scoring for Barcelona.
4. Real Madrid vs Barcelona - League (2007/08)
Having won the league in style it was a match for Real Madrid to celebrate and demonstrate their quality. Prior to kick off the Barcelona players formed a guard of honour to welcome the Madrid team onto the pitch. For the fiercly proud Barca team it was not something they particularly enjoyed, even less so when Real punished them in a dominant 4-1 victory. All was over as far as the league was concerned so there wasn't much for Barcelona to play for. However it was still a good game, simmering and badly tempered with plenty of bookings and Xavi sent off.
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CLASIGOALS!
Messi with a dazzling solo effort in the Champions League
What a shot from Alves, was lost for words seeing that one hit the back of the net!
Another from a defender, this time Roberto Carlos with a fantastic free kick
Cool as you like, Ronaldo makes his mark
Dazzling goal for Ronaldinho on what was a great night for him
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