El Clásico FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. What is it? (¿Qué es?) Imagine the way Americans feel about the Super Bowl, now multiply that feeling by 25.

El ClásicoEl Clásico

FC Barcelona vs. Real MadridFC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid

What is it? (What is it? (¿Qué es?)¿Qué es?)

Imagine the way Americans feel about Imagine the way Americans feel about the Super Bowl, now multiply that the Super Bowl, now multiply that feeling by 25. That is the emotion feeling by 25. That is the emotion that Spanish fans pour into this that Spanish fans pour into this biannual fixture.biannual fixture.

These are the two giants of the top These are the two giants of the top division of Spanish Professional division of Spanish Professional Football, or soccer if you prefer. (Football, or soccer if you prefer. (La La Primera División en La Liga Primera División en La Liga Profesional de EspañaProfesional de España))

History of the Match (La History of the Match (La Historia del Partido)Historia del Partido)

From the start the clubs were seen as From the start the clubs were seen as representatives of two rival regions in representatives of two rival regions in Spain, Catalonia and Castile, as well Spain, Catalonia and Castile, as well as of the two cities themselves. as of the two cities themselves.

The rivalry projects what many regard The rivalry projects what many regard as the political and cultural tensions as the political and cultural tensions felt between Catalans and the felt between Catalans and the Castilians. Castilians.

History of the Match (La History of the Match (La Historia del Partido)Historia del Partido)

During the dictatorship of Francisco During the dictatorship of Francisco Franco in Spain, all regional identities and Franco in Spain, all regional identities and cultures were openly suppressed (e.g. the cultures were openly suppressed (e.g. the peripheral languages such as Catalan were peripheral languages such as Catalan were officially banned). officially banned).

FC Barcelona became more than a club FC Barcelona became more than a club (més que un club) for Catalonia as a (més que un club) for Catalonia as a defender of freedom and one of its greatest defender of freedom and one of its greatest ambassadors. On the contrary, for most of ambassadors. On the contrary, for most of the Catalans and many other Spaniards, the Catalans and many other Spaniards, Real Madrid was representing oppressive Real Madrid was representing oppressive centralism.centralism.

History of the Match (La History of the Match (La Historia del Partido)Historia del Partido)

Americans understand what our Civil Americans understand what our Civil War did to shape our nation's politics; War did to shape our nation's politics; we’re still fundamentally divided nearly we’re still fundamentally divided nearly 150 years after the last shot was fired. 150 years after the last shot was fired.

The Spanish Civil War is much more The Spanish Civil War is much more recent (1936-1939), and the division recent (1936-1939), and the division between Barcelona and Madrid -- and between Barcelona and Madrid -- and between the region of Catalonia and the between the region of Catalonia and the rest of Spain -- remains firmly affected rest of Spain -- remains firmly affected by what was one of the darkest by what was one of the darkest occurrences of the 20th Century.occurrences of the 20th Century.

History of the Match (La History of the Match (La Historia del Partido)Historia del Partido)

Barcelona is said to embody the Barcelona is said to embody the identity of the Spanish region of identity of the Spanish region of Catalonia, and the team carries the Catalonia, and the team carries the motto "more than a club" to drive that motto "more than a club" to drive that point home. point home.

In contrast, Real Madrid has long In contrast, Real Madrid has long been considered the club of the been considered the club of the establishment in Spain, a view that establishment in Spain, a view that was enhanced during the Franco era.was enhanced during the Franco era.Written in the

seats at Barcelona’s Stadium, the Camp Nou

Tonight’s MatchTonight’s Match

Monday night, when FC Barcelona and Monday night, when FC Barcelona and Real Madrid meet in the Nou Camp Real Madrid meet in the Nou Camp Stadium (Camp Nou en Stadium (Camp Nou en españespañol), it will ol), it will mark the 161st time this match has mark the 161st time this match has been played.been played.

No matter what happens Monday this is No matter what happens Monday this is only match 13 of a 38-game La Liga only match 13 of a 38-game La Liga season for each team. A champion will season for each team. A champion will not be crowned after this game, but this not be crowned after this game, but this is certainly one of the biggest games of is certainly one of the biggest games of the season. the season.

Campeones del MundoCampeones del Mundo

This match tonight brings together This match tonight brings together thirteen of the World Cup winning thirteen of the World Cup winning side in South Africa- eight from Barça side in South Africa- eight from Barça and five from Madrid.and five from Madrid.

Key Players (los jugadores)Key Players (los jugadores)

Leo Messi- FC Barcelona #10Leo Messi- FC Barcelona #10

Key Players (los Key Players (los jugadores)jugadores)

Cristiano Ronaldo- Real Madrid #7Cristiano Ronaldo- Real Madrid #7

Key Players (los Key Players (los jugadores)jugadores)

Carles Puyol- FC Barcelona Carles Puyol- FC Barcelona CapitánCapitán

Key PlayersKey Players

Iker Casillas- Real Madrid Goalkeeper Iker Casillas- Real Madrid Goalkeeper and Capitán and Capitán

Key Players (los Key Players (los jugadores)jugadores)

Xavi- FC Barcelona #6Xavi- FC Barcelona #6

Key Players (los Key Players (los jugadores)jugadores)

Sergio Ramos- Real Madrid # 4Sergio Ramos- Real Madrid # 4

Key Players (los Key Players (los jugadores)jugadores)

David Villa- FC Barcelona #7David Villa- FC Barcelona #7

Works CitedWorks Cited http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/laliga/story/rehttp://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/laliga/story/re

al-madrid-barcelona-el-clasico-still-reigns-supremal-madrid-barcelona-el-clasico-still-reigns-supremee

Sergio Ramos- Sergio Ramos- www.exposay.com/sergio-ramos-as-roma-vs-real-www.exposay.com/sergio-ramos-as-roma-vs-real-madrid---uefa-champions-league---february-19-20madrid---uefa-champions-league---february-19-2008/p/17812/1708/p/17812/17

Cristiano Ronaldo-Cristiano Ronaldo-www.dominicansports.blogspot.com www.dominicansports.blogspot.com

Iker Casillas- Iker Casillas- http://www.zulva.com/images/spain/http://www.zulva.com/images/spain/

Leo Messi- Leo Messi- www.zimbio.comwww.zimbio.com Carles Puyol-totalfootballmadness.com Carles Puyol-totalfootballmadness.com Xavi-http://www.allaboutfcbarcelona.com/Xavi-http://www.allaboutfcbarcelona.com/

2009/03/fc-barcelona-vs-malaga-pictures.html2009/03/fc-barcelona-vs-malaga-pictures.html

Works CitedWorks Cited

FC Barcelona Official Website- FC Barcelona Official Website- http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/enhttp://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/glish/

Real Madrid Official Real Madrid Official Website-http://www.realmadrid.com/Website-http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/Home.htmcs/Satellite/en/Home.htm