Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
Every time Real Madrid and Barcelona face-off against each other, the entire football world is on its toes. After all, two of the world’s best players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo play on the same field.
However, for Real Madrid and Barcelona fans, it’s bit more than just Messi vs Ronaldo.
I travelled to Barcelona to witness the last El Clasico of this season (2017/18) and well, the craze around the match just completely caught me off-guard even before I entered the stadium!
Three hours before the match started, Barca fans, ready with their anthems, gathered around Camp Nou in their jerseys. One hour before kick-off, they divided ranks into two groups and started their march to watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid.
In the first leg of the 1943 Copa del Generalisimo semi-finals, Barcelona beat Real Madrid 3-0 at home. However, the Madrid players were not happy with the refereeing and especially with the way the Barcelona fans behaved with their whistles.
Then the Barcelona fans were not allowed to travel to Madrid for the second leg. On the day of the match, stones were thrown at the Barcelona team bus.
The fans threw coins at the players during the match. Barcelona couldn't do much and had to just watch Real Madrid score goals. Eventually, Madrid won 11-1.
Barcelona's reserve goalkeeper Fernando Argila said, "There was no rivalry. Not, at least, until that game."
El Clasico is not only about Barcelona and Real Madrid or only bound to the Spanish football fans. People from England, USA, Canada wait for months to witness the great football spectacle.
So sit back and enjoy just how big Barcelona vs Real Madrid is for fans all over the world in the video above.
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(This video is being republished from The Quint’s archives ahead of the match between Barcelona and Real Madrid on 28 October. This video was originally published on 21 May 2018.)
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