Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in a ‘spectacular’ clásico like those of old
Hansi Flick’s reinvented league leaders head to Spanish capital as equals after re-emerging from Real’s shadow
Once upon a time there was a football match. They called it el clásico and it was a classic every time, the biggest and best in the whole wide world. Everyone watched it and everything depended on it, so the story goes. It was built up and up and up and still never let you down, an epic battle between two behemoths who went 17 years without a 0-0, going all the way back to the night a pig’s head was thrown at Luís Figo, and who scored a combined 125 goals in a decade. Barcelona and Real Madrid were, after all, the best teams with the best coaches and best players on the planet, matched only by each other.
Were? Are? There is no rivalry like Madrid-Barça and that remains the case, a meeting with a scale and symbolism nothing equals, huge every time. There have been special moments recently, too. And this week’s talk of the best clásico they could remember, a recurring theme on radio and TV, points at extremely short memories and invites fate to leave them looking foolish. But Saturday’s meeting does feel a little different; these two might, just might, actually be the best teams in Europe again; this could be a battle the way it used to be, closer and more competitive than anyone anticipated. A clash of styles and identities. Above all, a clash of titans.
Continue reading...Date: |
Topics
-
Sports - ESPN
Coaching in a Clásico: What's it like in the dugout for Real Madrid vs. Barcelona?
7 hours ago -
Sports - ESPN
What to know about El Clásico: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona tale of the tape
8 hours ago -
Sports - ESPN
As Clásico nears, Real Madrid are still taking time to adapt to Mbappé
Yesterday -
Sports - ABC News
Coldplay teaming with Barcelona for next clasico against Real Madrid
October 17 -
Entertainment - ABC News
Coldplay teaming with Barcelona for next clasico against Real Madrid
October 17 -
Sports - Yahoo Sports
Real Madrid target met Barcelona’s sporting director in February – report
October 18 -
Sports - ABC News
A comparison of Mbappé's Real Madrid and Yamal's Barcelona ahead of their first clasico
Yesterday -
Sports - CBS Sports
Vini Jr. goes off as Real Madrid rescue victory vs. Dortmund: Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich headline Wednesday
2 days ago
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
Donald Trump and JD Vance’s phones reportedly targeted by Chinese hackers – US elections live
21 minutes ago - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Stacey Williams says Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein ‘coordinated’ groping incident
6 hours ago - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Israeli airstrikes kill at least 72 across Gaza
1 hour ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Elon Musk has been in regular contact with Putin for two years, says report
4 hours ago - Elon Musk -
World - The Guardian
Guadeloupe loses electricity after striking workers seize power station
53 minutes ago
Latest in World
-
World - The New York Times
Live Updates: Deadly Israeli Strikes Hit Southern Gaza, Health Officials Say
9 minutes ago - Israel -
World - The New York Times
Israeli Strike Kills 3 Journalists in Southern Lebanon
15 minutes ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Leicester v Nottingham Forest: Premier League – live
17 minutes ago - Premier League -
World - The Guardian
England v Germany: women’s international football friendly – live
19 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
Donald Trump and JD Vance’s phones reportedly targeted by Chinese hackers – US elections live
21 minutes ago - Donald Trump