Next Match:El Clasico

Popular El Clasico will be played at Santiago Bernabeu on May 7th. In Hispanic world El Clasico means the same as derby. In Argentine this is Boca-River, in Uruguay Nacional-Penarol, in Chile Colo Colo-Universidad Catolica, and in Spain Real Madrid-Barcelona,the derby of all derbies. This is about clubs from two the largest Spanish towns, and also about two the most successful and popular clubs in the world. Barcelona was always, and especially at the time of Franco’s dictatorship (1939-1975.), the carrier of Catalan culture and a symbol of resistance to centralistic suppressors, while Real Madrid was followed by reputation of regime’s ambassador.

Rivalry lasts since the first Spanish championship kept in 1928/29, and exciting race which ended by Barca’s victory.At the crossing from 40s to 50s Real Madrid recorded average results, while Barca won four national titles in six years.Turning point was in 1954.,when Real Madrid, with help of regime, managed to get Alfredo Di Stefano, the Argentinian who played for Millonarios, in illegal Columbian league outside FIFA’s system. Barcelona signed a contract with Di Stefano and got his printout from River Plate, the club which held players rights, but Real arranged transfer with Millonarios. Although Real’s deal juridically wasn’t worth because Columbians were illegals, Spanish Football Federation announced both clubs equal owners of the player and ordered that he’ll alternately play for both clubs, each season for one.Than Barca demonstrative withdrew, and Di Stefano regenerated Madrid club and made him the greatest in the world.Of course, Madrid’s president at that time was Santiago Bernabeu, Franco’s like-minded and war-mate from the Civil war, so Real had privileges everywhere.

Although powerful Barcelona dealt with Real in Spain for next few years, Castllans won five successive Champions Cups and absolutely ruled in 60s in Spain.Even when Real wasn’t champion, it was Atletico Madrid, Franco’s ex-favorite club, while Catalans got several cups called Copa de generalisimo. Frustrations in Catalona continued growing, because they couldn’t deal with centralism even on the football fields. Because of that, win over Real in Copa del Rey in 1968 at Santiago Bernabeu was joyfully welcomed, when Franco handed trophy to Barca captain and Catalan Olivella.

When Franco was already old and seriously ill, his pressure over the Spanish society slightly loosen.Leaded by Johan Cruyff, on 13th February 1974, Barca overcame Real in Madrid with 5-0 and won the national title after 14 years. Camp Nou was the scene of the first Catalan celebration when the dictator’s death was announced in 1975, and in the next decades Barca manage to balance with real in sport successes and material status.

The most successful Barca’s period, since the beginning of the 80s to 1996, coincided with administration of nationally more tolerant socialistic party PSOE led by Felipe Gonzalez.Although Real had its bright times, Barca wasn’t droping behind, and from 1988 to 1995 passed through golden era. With Johan Cruyff as a coach, in eight successive seasons won at least one trophy, 4 successive national titles from 1991 to 1994, and in 1992 the first Champions Cup. Over than, among the others, for Barca played Hristo Stoickov, Michael Laudrop, Ronald Koeman, Aitor Begiristain and Jose Mari Bakero.

The new ascent Real experienced from 1996 to 2003, when the right-oriented National Party,whose leader was Jose Maria Aznar was passionate fan of Madrid’s whites, got administration.In Aznar’s time,Real won the Champios League in 1998, for the first time after 32 years, and than again in 2000. In late 90s Barca manage to equally cope with Real, winning an array of trophies under coach Louis van Gaal and his Netherland’s legion, but disaster came in 2000, when untalented and scandalous Joan Gaspart succeeded successful Barca president Josep Lluis Nunez. Gaspart spent loads of money on ill starred players.At the same time Real additionally came closer to the government when Florentino Perez became president.Perez won the elections by promising to bring Barca’s captain Luis Figo if he will be elected.Members massively vote for him and Figo became Real’s.

Not only that, but Perez manage to make a deal with government to sell them sports fields Ciudad Deportivo and clear majority of €250 million depths. With money injection, Perez started campaign of bringing the greatest football stars like Zidane, Ronaldo and Beckham. The aim was to create the greatest team of all times under the name Galacticos, but they had too many offensive players, and lack of quality in defense so in 2003 they fell in the result crisis, which lasted for four years. Just at the time when Real’s conception of Galacticos blow down, Gaspart was succeeded by Joan Laporta, and soon after that, in 2004, political power got Socialistic Party with Jose Luis Zapater, the first premier who is also Barca fan. Again everything turned into Barca’s favour as Barca finished beyond Real in three successive seasons, winning two national titles and Champions League in 2006.Last championship,contrary to all predictions went to Madrid, which caught up six points of arrear and based on better mutual rate with Barca won the title.The crucial was derby at Camp Nou, which ended 3-3.After that missed chance to go on eight points difference, Barca failed even in the Cup, losing 4-0 against Getafe after winning the first leg 5-2. Even this season Real continued the ascending trend, while Barca pays her attempt of imitation of Real’s Galacticos conception.Additional weight which Barca drags is called Ronaldinho, who is obviously fondness by multi-million offers from Italian and English clubs, while Real, despite number of frailties holds the leading position and has already secured the second successive title probably thanks to win at Camp Nou at the end of 2007.

This was more objective overview and historical background of El Clasico. Of course, as Barca fan, I expect to see my team winning every game, especially against Real Madrid, and am hoping that Barca will continue playing great football, which they presented against Valencia.