El Clasico: The Battle of Contrasts

Of all the football games that are watched the world over, none elicits the intensity, passion and appreciation of technical and tactical skills as much as a match between the two seemingly similar but completely different clubs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Termed the El Clasico (The Classic), the usually half-yearly battle between these supporter-owned but somewhat differently promoted and managed clubs, is that of one between contrasts, both for football and non-football reasons.

Barcelona – affectionately called “Barca” – represents not just a football club (Mes que un Club) but a symbol of Catalan left-wing nationalism, a history of anti-Francoism and a manner of Spanish federal autonomy. Real Madrid is regarded as the symbol of the imperial Spain of the past, the “winningest” club of the 20th century, and a cynosure of the Spanish conservative’s eye. Both these symbolisms are flawed and reductionist; after all, Real Madrid, during the period of Spain’s civil war, was presided over by a socialist who instituted the socio ownership policy for the club, and there were periods in Barcelona’s history when the presidency aligned itself with Franco’s rule.