Top 5 Recent El Clasico Moments
By Hasan Karim
The footballing world will be watching this weekend as the biggest game in Spanish football is upon us, El Clasico. Real Madrid head to Barcelona this weekend, with all the recent narratives and headlines, this game is more than just a battle of pride, a showdown for bragging rights – season’s will be made or broken, emotions will be on show, rivalries will resume and fates will be resolved. Ahead of the game, we are taking a look at some of the most recent big moments.
5 – Zidane’s debut Clasico in management
Following the departure of Rafa Benitez in 2016, few could have imagined what Zinedine Zidane would do when he stepped up to the first-team coach. The Frenchman’s predecessor took a 4-0 pummelling at the hands of Barcelona at home. So when the second El Clasico rolled around and with Zidane’s football in full flow – many were unsure as to what we could expect in his managerial debut of this behemoth game.
Barcelona was unbeaten from October until April – a side in good form. Following kick-off, Madrid fell 1-0 after Pique scored. In a tense battle, Benzema equalized for Madrid 6 minutes later, however, the game dragged on. It was the 83rd minute, Sergio Ramos is sent off following a second yellow card. Madrid had already had a goal ruled out for Gareth Bale after a harsh foul call.
The 85th minute arrives, Bale pings a cross toward the far post, Ronaldo takes it down on his chest, shimmies to his left taking Alves out of the game before slotting between the open legs of Bravo into the net. Whilst Madrid may not have gone on to win the league, this game was huge for the momentum heading towards that UEFA Champions League final only a month later.