El Clasico, the titanic encounter between two of the world’s greatest football clubs: Barcelona and Real Madrid. I adopted Barcelona as my favorite club several years ago so I was thrilled when they clobbered Real Madrid 5-0 in November. It was a totally unexpected outcome and I immediately began to wonder what the rematch, to be played in Madrid in April, would be like.
Little did I know in November that there would be 4 El Clasicos to be played in April and May. The first would be the second meeting between the teams in La Liga and would likely determine the outcome of the league competition. The second would be for the Copa del Rey, a trophy that eluded both teams last year. And the third and fourth meetings would be the semi-finals of the Champion’s League. Last year, the RM coach, Jose Mourinho, had won the Champion’s League trophy coaching Intermilan and had managed to squeak out a victory over Barcelona (and taunting them in the press afterwards). So this year’s meeting would be about more than just an El Clasico.
La Liga, April 16, in Madrid. Barcelona 1 – Real Madrid 1. This game was amazing. You really felt like every step of every player, every movement towards and away from the ball, was a thrilling contest and the game’s outcome, a tie, seemed completely justified. Barcelona played its customary passing game and Real Madrid’s vigorous defense (a real change from November!) launched many fast-paced dangerous counterattacks. The difference in style and strategy between the teams is noteworthy, but probably unfortunate for football, because the physical challenges, more often than not, involve Read Madrid players clawing and cleating their way through the Barcelona team. The only outright barbarism, however, came from one or two fans who aimed green lasers onto the face and chest of Lionel Messi prior to his free kicks and penalty kick. Passion is one thing. Endangering the players is another. These people should be put in prison and banned from attending games.
Copa del Rey, April 20, in Valencia. Real Madrid 1 – Barcelona 0. Unlike the previous game where the battle was joined everywhere on the field, each half of this game was dominated by a single team. The first half was all Real Madrid. Barcelona couldn’t string more than one or two passes together and Real Madrid’s hyperactive defense quickly went on the attack with each turnover. The second half, however, was all Barcelona. Real Madrid went into a defensive bunker and helplessly watched Barcelona weave its web of passes around them. Only a couple of brilliant saves from their goalkeeper prevented disaster. Real Madrid eventually won the game in overtime with one of their lightning quick attacks, much to their fans’ delight. Fan note: the number of green lasers aimed at Barcelona players on set pieces had tripled.
Champion’s League, April 27, in Madrid, Barcelona 2 – Real Madrid 0.
The run up to this game was more noteworthy than the game
itself. Jose Mourinho had been stirring up controversy in the press for
weeks and things boiled over in the days leading up to this game. At the
same time, the physical intensity-violence (?) of the previous two
competitions had taken its toll on Barcelona’s side which had lost
Adriano, Maxwell, and Iniesta. Emotions were raw. Still, when the opening whistle blew, the teams started
out with Barcelona patiently and easily controlling the ball, but rarely
attempting to score, and Real Madrid thoroughly content to watch and wait. If April 16 had offered everything we expect from El Clasico, this game seemed to be headed in the opposite direction. And then it got weird. Violent challenges for the ball resumed and several red cards popped out
(most of these were given for unsportsmanlike behavior on the sidelines:
Mourinho and Pinto, Barca’s reserve goalkeeper). The only thing that
rescued the game from obscurity was Lionel Messi scoring brilliantly
(twice) late in the game against clusters of white shirts.
Champion’s League, May 2, in Barcelona.
