Real Madrid vs Barcelona. Republican Spain vs Catalan Nationalism. This rivalry almost transcends the sporting fixture that El Clásico represents. The deep historical divide between these two clubs is long and storied.
The first meeting between the two clubs was in 1902. A football tournament featuring mainly teams from the Basque and Catalan regions—as well as Madrid FC (the original club name)—saw Barcelona win the inaugural fixture 3-1 against the team who would become their eternal enemies. Thus began the rivalry.
The early contests were won by the Catalan club as the primitive Spanish football league began to take shape in the 1920’s. These matches were held and played in a spirit of one-upmanship and victory was often celebrated by fans, especially in Catalonia, as a win for their national pride and political principles.
Given Spain’s sense of regional pride and historical traditions, football and politics have always gone hand in hand. In 1936, during General Franco’s Coup d’état against the democratic Republic, Catalan politician and residing president of FC Barcelona, Josep Sunyol, was arrested and subsequently killed by Francoist soldiers when visiting Republican troops just outside of Madrid.
This political element came to a distinctive head following the Spanish Civil War. When General Franco took control in 1939 he sought to establish a centralist approach and unify the Spanish state. Previously autonomous regions such as the Basque Country and Catalonia resisted this notion and football became their population’s means of cultural expression. General Franco banned the Catalan language from being spoken and even forced Barcelona to change from their historical name, FC Barcelona, to the distinctly Castilian; Barcelona CF. This only reinforced the Catalan feelings of repression and made them more determined to get behind their Club as a vehicle for social expression against their oppressors. They proudly stood behind the club mantra; “Més Que Un Club” (More Than A Club).
The hatred emanating from Barcelona during these years towards Franco became focused against Real Madrid as it was seen as being El Generalísimo’s team.
The transfer saga in 1953 between the two giants over Alfredo De Stefano did nothing to reduce the tensions. When initially scouted by Barcelona legend Josep Samiter, Di Stefano was playing for Colombian side Millonarios. Due to a footballing strike in Argentina preventing him for playing for his original club River Plate, Di Stefano was now plying his trade in Bogota. Real Madrid, also a fan of Di Stefano, pursued his signature.
In Phil Ball’s Book Morbo he states: ‘Barcelona reacted quickest, and through Catalan lawyer Ramon Trias Fargas, they easily reached a transfer agreement with River Plate, who—according to FIFA—was still Di Stefano’s official employer. However, this agreement was conditional on the consent of Millonarios. ‘
The Spanish Franco government quickly passed a law banning the purchase of foreign players, scuppering Barcelona’s plan to sign Di Stefano. In the meantime, Real Madrid reached a deal with Millonarios, thus meaning the player’s registration was held by both clubs. FIFA declared that the player would have to be shared between Barcelona and Real Madrid in alternate seasons. The Franco government agreed, lifting their ban on foreign imports. Barcelona’s club president, Marti Carretó, resigned under pressure from the Club’s board for allowing this situation to occur and for suspicions he was a government puppet thereby complicit in the affair. The interim Barcelona board cancelled Di Stefano’s contract leaving him free to play for Real Madrid. Di Stefano went on to score 216 goals for Los Blanco’s and was a key figure in their success, winning the European Cup a record five successive times.
From the 1950’s until the present day, Real Madrid and Barcelona have traded La Liga Championships and Copa titles. The modern El Clásico has retained its historical and political roots, complete with further controversy. The sale of Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 was one such instance. A hero of the Catalan Club, Luis Figo was the talisman and symbol of the team and his status as a club legend was almost assured.
However, the arrival of Florentino Perez as president of Real Madrid and his subsequent Galactico project caused a major stir. Figo’s world record transfer in the summer of 2000 when Real Madrid paid his buyout clause of $60.1million, turned him from hero to instant villain. His return in the Camp Nou Clásico in November 2002 is infamous for the treatment of the returning Figo. He was pelted with whiskey bottles, cigarette lighters, golf balls and most famously, a pig’s head. The game even needed to be halted to let the fans regain composure.
El Clásico has now become a global event. After the UEFA Champions League final it is the most watched club match in the world with around 400 million viewers. Every game becomes bigger than the last. Recently Barcelona have had the majority of the bragging rights with the famous 6-2 in the Bernabeu under Pep Guardiola, and the 5-0 hammering Real took in Jose Mourinho’s first Clásico.
The two best in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lock horns again. The two biggest clubs in the world in Barcelona and Real Madrid prepare to do battle. The world is ready for the latest instalment of El Clásico: the greatest match of all.
