Barcelona vs Madrid
Nov 30th, 2009 | By Seconds Out | Category: soccerFORGET about local spats such as Liverpool versus Everton – a big relief to Merseyside cops because circa 50,000 thieving Scouse bastards are under the one roof where they can keep an eye on them for 90 minutes – or Boca Junior versus River Plate, or even the annual reenactment of the battle of the Boyne, Celtic versus the God-less Rangers.
The derby to beat all derbies took place at the magnificent Nou Camp in Barcelona last night.
Barca, the pride of Catalonia, beat Real Madrid 1-0 in “El Clasico” last evening.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s second half volley separated the sides on a night of raw passion. The game was shown live across cinemas across Spain – it’s bigger than Garryowen versus Shannon.
The Galacticos (Madrid) had the sybarite Ronaldo back from a shopping spree in Meeeeeeelan – and a visit to a pedicurist – while Barcelona had the mercurial Messi dictating affairs at the cutting edge of the attack.
The good news from last night’s clash is that Ronaldo, who’s dressing like a Brazilian rent boy these days, missed the proverbial fucking sitter. Good man!
Madrid, who have spent more than the GNP of a small country on players this season, are the team of the establishment, the team of the fascist dictator General Franco.
Their ground, the Bernabeu, is called after one of Franco’s generals, Santiago Bernabeu, an avowed fascist who fought on Franco’s side in the Spanish Civil War, and who aided and abetted in the establishment’s brutal suppression of Catalonia and eastern Spain.
After the Civil War, Franco banned the Catalan language and flag. Football clubs were prohibited from using non-Spanish names. Barcelona had the Catalan flag removed from its crest.
Barca, which many Catalans regard not so much as a football club as a symbol of their desire for independence from Spain, provides space to express an identity, according to Josep Salvador, an anthropologist who specialises in the political significance of football in Spain.
“All societies need space where they can express their identity. That’s what Barca is. Its symbols have merged with the symbols of Catalan identity.”
Barcelona haven’t had the same success on the field as Madrid, who were voted the team of the century in 1999, , but they did hammer their hated rivals 6-2 at the Bernabeu last season and went on to claim the European Cup and La Liga – achievements that went down like a lead balloon in Madrid.
Hence, the Madrileños went on an astonishing spending spree – which many believe was bankrolled by “old dinero” provided by banks loyal to Franco and the establishment – of over €220 million.
€95m was spent on Ronaldo, €65m on Kaka, €40m on Karim Benzema and €35m Xabi Alonso in the biggest raid on the transfers market since I walked out on my contract with Inter Milan and inked a three year deal with Prospect Priory in the Limerick District League.
However, the right wing dinero couldn’t subdue the passion pouring down from the terraces of the Nou Camp last night – it couldn’t do much about Ibrahimovic’s rising volley either.
Ronaldo, back from injury – he fractured his foot after his wallet fell on it – last night, was once again indulging, in between flashes of brilliance, the bollocks, in the preening and posturing that marked his final season at Old Trafford.
If the flying Portuguese winger thinks he can get away with an entire season of petulance and scowling at his team-mates then he won’t be long feeling the hand of history on his shoulder – the bony hand of General Franco himself.
Can you hear the drums Ronaldo indeed.
El Clasico, it’s only a game right? Tell that to the Catalans and the Madrileños.
Eh, I think ye forgot to put the article in
That’s gremlins for you. Thanks for the waning.
once found a site for booking apartments in barcelona. it said, come to barcelona, don’t worrry if you don’t speak spanish, neither do we.
It may be bigger than Shannon & Garryowen but Shannon & Saints, never. That derby, when it’s played well, is the definitive reason why soccer is better than rugby. Oh and that thief Messi too.
I think the Gods conspired against you Mr Out. You had everything bar the weather and the opportunities a temperate climate presented. A Bernabeu Or Noucamp balmy evening, temperatures in double figures and an olive oil based diet and you Mr Out, you could have been a contender.
Messi got the Balon D’or (whatever) Mr Sniffle. I thought they’d give it to the Sunderland player whose shot deflected off a balloon into the net v Liverpool recently…
Bollix – I missed it!
Catalonia was once an autonomous region situated in what is now Eastern Spain and Southern France. It ruled the Med with Minorca, Majorca and Sardinia all being Catalan territories. While BFC may represent Catalan at soccer the rugby honour goes to Perpignan or USAP who play in the French Top 14. Indeed Perpignan is in Northern Catalonia as opposed to Southern France. USAP play in Thomond Park on Dec 11 in the Heineken Cup. I was lucky to see them crowned champions of France last season on a warm night in Paris. The colour and passion had to be seen. If you can get along to Thomond Park to witness passion akin to our own.
“Més que un club” is the slogan you can find on all the Barcelona merchandise. For a time during Franco’s dictatorship (Not a Fascist dictatorship because Franco wasn’t one. It just suited his needs at the start of the Civil War to side with them. The Fascist party Falange was gradually marginalised in the Forties and Fifties) it was an outlet for the Catalans to show some form of defiance. Now it’s just a marketing slogan for a big multi-million euro organization. Barca have supporters that are “independientistas” and those that are not.
What there are a lot of though…sunshine supporters. A bit like the Munster fans who have no idea about rugby and who will disappear when things start really going bad for Munster. If Barca don’t play beautifully and win, they get booed. They don’t support the team..they expect: to be entertained, impressed,etc.They don’t appreciate when a team gives its heart and soul on the pitch and still lose. It must be beautiful victory or its not good enough.
I live in Catalunya,just outside Barcelona, and have seen Barca play a couple of times. The stadium is lifeless. It is situated in one of the more exclusive parts of Barcelona. A lot of people who go there look like they should be in the theatre because of how they are dressed. Speaking to an English colleague who has lived here for many years. He told me that generally,as far as fans in the stadium go, it is the middle class who are sitting in the stands not like in English football for example where it is a working class thing. This leads to a pretty dull atmosphere as everyone is there waiting to be entertained.And now its full of clueless tourists as well, according to a local friend.
And don’t forget Barcelona spent €70 million plus Eto’o(€20 odd million) for Ibrahimovich, which amounts to quite a sum when you think about it. They are not short a few bob but, Catalans have a reputation as being tight with money.I suppose careful would be more appropriate.
Give me Munster any day