Although both Barcelona and Real Madrid were not the forces they were a few years ago, El Clásico remains the highlight of Spanish football and perhaps the European game as a whole.
So with that in mind, we’ve looked back at the very best we’ve seen in the last ten years. Fasten your seat belts.
Jose Mourinho’s spell at Real Madrid did not yield too many El Clásico victories but this is an obvious exception and it secured anything but his first and only La Liga title with the club.
Sami Khedira set up Los Blancos with a goal but his goal was interrupted almost immediately by Alexis Sánchez. And in true Ronaldo fashion, Cristiano Ronaldo beat the winner and told the Camp Nou to be quiet.
“Jordi Alba, LIONEL MESSIIIIII !!!! My God, Lionel Messi has done it again, he is superhuman!”
That’s probably all you need to hear about this league structure in 2013.
Casemiro put Madrid ahead before Messi and Rakitić put Barca at the top. Ramos was sent off for defeating Messi again, and then towards the end of the game James Rodríguez secured what Madrid thought was a point to steal the equalizer. However, the Argentine wizard had other ideas and struck the miraculous winner deep into the injury time.
Real Madrid vs. Barcelona – Copa del Rey Final | David Ramos / Getty Images
Mourinho’s first trophy at the Bernabeu when Real beat their rivals in a tense Copa del Rey final in 2011. It was a close meeting, with both sides giving chances to score in both halves before Ronaldo came up trump for Los Blancos.
The Portuguese forward jumped so high, he dwarfed Barca’s defense and in the 113th minute was the match and the cup Madrid … that was until Ramos released it from the bus during the trophy parade.
Oh boy, I bet Gareth Bale wishes he could turn back time now. The Welshman may well be on his way out of the Bernabeu very soon, but at least he has this magical moment to define his stay in the Spanish capital.
Has anyone seen Marc Bartra – who actually scored in the match – since the 2014 Copa del Rey final? Because he got so lost when he tried to chase Bale, who showed one of the biggest swings of this century, to fly down to the left and bury the winner.
Pep Guardiola & Jose Mourinho | Alex Livesey / Getty Images
One of the best matches between Mourinho and Guardiola on this list. The rivalry and mind games were diligent and a place in the Champions League final was at stake when the sides met in Madrid in 2011.
Mourinho tried some defensive tactics on the left wing to counter Barcelona, but it backfired when Pepe was sent off and Blaugrana took full advantage. Messi hit the two crucial away goals, including a phenomenal dance through the Real defensive line for others. Barca would continue to win the trophy a month later.
The biggest El Clásico ever? I mean, this match from 2014 had practically everything. Iniesta kicked Barcelona ahead after seven minutes before Benzema struck two to give Madrid a deserved lead.
Messi equalized before Ronaldo put Los Blancos ahead for the second time. Then Ramos did the inevitable and got sent off and Messi hit two consecutive penalties to secure a hat trick and Barcelona; a historic and electrifying victory.
