New Delhi: El Clasico, one of the most famous derbies in world football is all set to take centre stage today at the Santiago Bernabeu as the Spanish arch rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns in a top-of-the-table showdown in La Liga. The contest is renowned for producing high drama, goalmouth action, fierce battles, and unmissable moments that have been cemented in football folklore for eternity.
These two teams have locked horns 257 times over a decade with Real Madrid winning 105 while Barcelona winning 100 across all competitions. Ahead of the mouthwatering clash in the Spanish capital let’s take a look at the five of the greatest El Clasico matches in history.
5. Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid (October 2010)
Hace 13 años…
¡Un clásico inolvidable! ✨Barça 5-0 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/5FZBSj5jYt
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) November 29, 2023
Shortly after assembling a new group of Galacticos featuring stars like Karim Benzema, Mesut Ozil, and Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho had managed a record-breaking start for a Real Madrid manager. However, his first major test at Camp Nou turned into a nightmare as Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona dominated with a stunning 5-0 win and showcased their signature tiki-taka style.
Although Lionel Messi didn’t find the net himself but he made a significant impact by setting up both of David Villa’s goals. Xavi, Pedro, and Jeffren Suarez each scored with Real Madrid’s frustration culminating in a Sergio Ramos red card during stoppage time, deepening the sting of an unforgettable defeat.
4. Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona (May 2009)
On this day, 14 years ago, Barcelona pumped Real Madrid 6-2 at the Bernabeu. ✨ pic.twitter.com/85w4sN549S
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 2, 2023
Another classic rivalry at the Bernabeu witnessed Barcelona as the winner and far more comprehensively this time around. Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring early for Real Madrid but Barca quickly responded with a series of goals from Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol, and Lionel Messi giving them a 3-1 advantage by halftime. The second half continued in a similar fashion with Sergio Ramos finding the net for Madrid, only for Barcelona to counter with goals from Henry, Messi, and Gerard Pique, securing a remarkable win for Pep Guardiola’s team.
This victory effectively wrapped up the La Liga title race and pushed Barcelona seven points ahead of Madrid with only four games remaining, a triumph widely celebrated in the Spanish media.
Mundo Deportivo called it Barca’s best performance they had ever produced while AS wrote: “Only in paradise can you see football like this.”
3. Barcelona 3-3 Real Madrid (March 2007)
📖 #OnThisDay in Barça history: Leo #Messi‘s first ever hat-trick came against Real Madrid on 10 March, 2007. pic.twitter.com/R84f5DYDuu
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) March 10, 2017
The whole stadium echoed the name Lionel Messi at the conclusion of this pulsating El Clasico encounter at Camp Nou. At the age of just 19 Messi’s transformation from wonderkid to superstar was there for the world to witness and he truly introduced himself to the El Clasico stage with a memorable hat-trick at Camp Nou.
Ruud van Nistelrooy within the opening 28 minutes gave Real Madrid the lead twice but both strikes were cancelled out by Messi’s equalisers. Barca ended the first half with 10 men after Oleguer was shown two yellow cards. Victor Valdes denied Van Nistelrooy his hat-trick thrice in the second half before Sergio Ramos thought he had won the clash for Los Blancos with a 73rd-minute header.
However, the Argentine teenager came to Barca’s rescue and burst past two defenders to seal a late hat-trick in an epic six-goal thriller and fired home a 91st-minute equaliser to complete his treble.
2. Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona (April 2014)
FINAL: Barcelona 1-2 Real Madrid (Bartra, 68’ / Di María, 10’ y Bale, 85’) #FinalCopa #RMLive pic.twitter.com/g4RbvSNwCw
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 16, 2014
Real Madrid took their 3-4 La Liga loss to Barcelona just a month later in the Copa del Ray final without the presence of their talisman Cristiano Ronaldo with Welsh wizard Gareth Bale admirably filling the void.
Angel Di Maria fired an 11th-minute opener into the bottom corner before Barcelona levelled the ranks thanks to Marc Barta’s superb header in the second half. However, Barta’s equalised morphed into despair as he was unable to stop an iconic El Clasico match-winner from Bale five minutes from time.
Just as the contest felt to be heading to extra time Bale received the ball on the halfway line and knocked it into the empty Barca’s half. Despite Marc Bartra’s intense attempts to push Gareth Bale off course, the Real Madrid winger powered past his Spanish opponent, maintaining his balance as he angled inside and calmly placed his shot past Jose Manuel Pinto, securing Real’s 19th Copa del Rey trophy.
Carlo Ancelotti later even described Bale’s strike as a fantastic goal from an extraordinary player.
1. Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona (April 2017)
📝 MATCH REPORT: Real Madrid 2-3 FC Barcelona
Epic late win reignites title race: https://t.co/Me68HA2hBe #ElClásico #ForçaBarça 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/PwaAM50hlJ
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 23, 2017
Lionel Messi made a habit of wreaking havoc at the Bernabeu during his Barcelona career, but his display in April 2017 remains one of his finest moments. Although Real Madrid claimed the La Liga title this year, the giants extended the title win as they won a crucial five-goal victory at the Bernabeu with Messi etching his name in the annals of history.
Los Blancos dominated the opening exchanges and eventually broke the deadlock just before half-time as Casemiro scored an amazing goal but the Argentine cancelled out his close-range finish as he scored just five minutes later courtesy of a fine individual goal.
Both the legends missed the opportunity to give a second-half lead to their teams. Keylor Naves and Marc-Andre ter Stegen were called from the bench to make some crucial saves during end to end affair, Stegen made a total of 12 saves in 90 minutes while Naves reacted brilliantly and kept Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez from close range.
However, Naves missed Ivan Rakitic’s flying rocket goal into the corner at the 73rd-minute mark giving Barcelona the lead before Sergio Ramos was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Messi just four minutes earlier. Madrid didn’t give up and refused to go down without a fight with 10 men and it seemed like they have snatched a point when James Rodriguez hit towards the near post to meet Marcelo’s cross and give the hosts an 85th-minute equaliser.
Lionel Messi stepped and delivered when Barca needed it the most, scoring his 500th goal for the Catalan club in the 92nd minute to seal a memorable triumph with a last-gasp winner at stunned Bernabeu.
