On one side there is Real ('royal') Madrid, associated with the regime of the dictator Generalissimo Franco and the conservatism of modern centralist Spain. On the other side is Futbol Club Barcelona, symbol of an oppressed Catalan nationhood.
This political subplot has given an added edge to the competition between Spain's two most garlanded football clubs. Such tumultuous contests have resulted out of this heartfelt rivalry between the two teams that the tie has established itself as the classic game in Europe, nicknamed 'El Clasico.'
Read more about these two cities - Madrid or Barcelona?Barça Players in El Clasico
Barcelona players to have graced derbies of yesterday include 'Lobsterman' Pepe Samitier, who terrorized Madrid's defence in the 1920s, Ladislao Kubala, the Hungarian target-man of the 50's who was particularly fond of Barcelona 's bars and Johan Cruyff, the Dutchman who brought 'Total football' and an inferno of cigarette smoke (he smoked 40 a day) to the Nou Camp in the 1970s.
Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov and Romario formed the so-called 'Dream Team' of the 1990s which was involved in some memorable tussles. More recently, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi have all inflicted irreperable damage to Madrid's title hopes in derby games.
Real Madrid Players in El Clasico
An Argentine called Alfredo Di Stefano inspired five title triumphs in five years during the '50s and '60s. He was a great scourge of Barcelona, partly because they were deflected in their attempts to buy him.
Ferenc Puskas, 'the magical Magyar', gave defences of the '60s a torrid time. Emilio Butragueno was known as 'the vulture.' He terrorised Barça in the '80s, as did the acrobatic Hugo Sanchez, in the late '80s - early '90s. In the past couple of decades Raùl, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo formed a fearsome trio to take on Barça.
Politics in El Clasico
From 1936 to 1975 there was of course, Franco, who as well as subjugating the Catalan region and outlawing the Catalan language, developed a deep suspicion for the Barcelona club, which was viewed as the epitome of anti-Spanish sentiment.
During Franco's reign Barça's followers developed a sense that referees and league officials were against the club, which partly continues until today. What were viewed as farcical decisions and exaggerated bans and fines against Barca were common. Real Madrid's players meanwhile had to unfairly carry the burden of being political representatives of the regime which favoured it.
Political and cultural differences caused mayhem at matches. Barcelona fans became so incensed by the referee's performance at one game in 1970 they threw 25,000 seats onto the field. In another a Fascist soldier attempted to arrest the Barcelona groundsman on for being a suspected communist. And more recently a pig's head was tossed onto the field at the feet of Real Madrid player Luis Figo, who had betrayed Barca to sign for Real. Figo politely declined, having already eaten his dinner.
Luis Figo And El Clasico
If one player were to encapsulate the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barça than it would be Luis Figo. Figo spent five successful years at Barça in the late nineties, winning several league titles. He was the idol of the Nou Camp. Then in 2000 he decided to sign for Real Madrid.
Overnight he became the most despised man in Barcelona and a Madrid icon.
Though he went on to win several league titles with Madrid he also received perhaps the most hostile reception of any player in La Liga history when he returned to play in Barcelona. Among the indignities endured by the winger were the pig's head incident and sea of banknotes in his name, meant to symbolize his greed as a pesetero - a moneygrabbing turncoat.
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