Alejandro Soto
CONTROVERSIES
Some of the moments that have fuelled soccer's biggest club rivalry
CLÁSICO
The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, one of the fiercest in world soccer, is currently at fever pitch over the ‘Negreira affair’.
It’s just one of a number of occasions in the history of El Clásico that tension between the clubs has been ratcheted up to the max.
DI STÉFANO JOINS REAL
Real Madrid’s signing of Argentine Alfredo di Stéfano, who went on to become a club great, fuelled the fire of the two teams’ rivalry in 1953.
Di Stéfano appeared all set to join Barça from Colombian club Millonarios - only for Madrid to nip in ahead of the Blaugrana to snap up the star.
FIGO NOT FORGIVEN
After swapping Barça for Madrid in 2000, Luis Figo got dog’s - or should that be pig’s - abuse when he returned to the Camp Nou in the white shirt.
In a 2002 Clásico in Catalonia, one aggrieved home fan threw a pig’s head at Figo. It is one of the rivalry’s most memorable, most bizarre images.
MOU VS PEP
José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola were Real and Barça coaches, respectively, during one of El Clásico’s most dazzling - and most fractious - periods.
With Mou and Pep aiming constant jibes at each other and their clubs in their press conferences, there was an edge to every Madrid-Barça clash.
MOURINHO VS VILANOVA
Mourinho was also at the centre of Clásico controversy when he clashed with the late Tito Vilanova in a 2011 meeting between the clubs.
In a Spanish Super Cup game at the Camp Nou, Mourinho could be seen poking the then-Barça assistant in the eye as tempers flared.
MESSI, CR7 GET SHIRTY
In 2017, Barcelona won a heart-stopping Clásico 3-2 at the Bernabéu, Lionel Messi firing in the visitors’ third with just seconds to go.
A jubilant Messi celebrated his goal by removing his No. 10 shirt and, in one of El Clásico’s iconic moments, holding it up to the home crowd.
Later that year, Real Madrid’s Spanish Super Cup victory over Barcelona came thanks, in part, to a first-leg Cristiano Ronaldo strike at the Camp Nou.
And Ronaldo didn’t miss the chance to mimic Messi’s celebration, the forward whipping off his No. 7 jersey to display it to the Barça faithful.