Matches between Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are highly anticipated by fans worldwide. Different philosophies, politics, and regional pride make El Clasico a must-watch.
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00:00Featuring the world's best players in two of Europe's most successful teams.
00:05Football matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid are highly anticipated by not just fans in Spain, but all around the globe.
00:13So what makes El Clasico one of the most iconic rivalries in world football?
00:22Hello and welcome to Football Now from the Albeit Stadium in Qatar.
00:27Regional pride, player disputes, politics and a difference in opinion over whether superstars should be bought or developed
00:34makes Real Madrid versus Barcelona one of the most intense rivalries in the world of football.
00:40Barcelona with their famed La Masia academy and beautiful style of play crafted by the genius minds of Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola.
00:49And Real Madrid with their Galapagos policy and their European heritage holding 15 Champions League titles.
00:56So what makes this rivalry one of the most iconic in the game?
01:00El Clasico is undoubtedly the greatest rivalry in football which appeals to everyone in the world.
01:10I say it like that to be careful because of course the intensity of a game between Celtic and Rangers in Scotland
01:16or a Manchester derby in England, South America, Boca Juniors River Plate in Argentina.
01:21But do they matter to the world? When these two meet, when Real Madrid and Barcelona meet at any level as we've seen, the world cares.
01:28The world wants to switch on. We turn up to the stadium, these pictures are going around the world and people want to see it.
01:34So yes, the biggest rivalry I think that means more to more people around the world.
01:41Okay, so let's dig a little deeper and understand what it means to be associated with one of these two great clubs.
01:47Barcelona say they are Mesca and club, more than just your average football team.
01:52They're renowned for their iconic tiki-taka style of play and developing some of the greatest young talents football has ever seen through their iconic academy La Masia.
02:02I spoke to former midfielder Guys Comendieta who knows just what it's like to wear that iconic red and blue jersey of Barca.
02:10We like to think so. We like to be proud of what we produce, what La Masia produce.
02:15We've seen throughout the years so many players from the academy, not only making history at Barca but also the national team, being in those positions in those eras.
02:23So yeah, we probably like to say that we like to win but not to win in any way like other teams managed to do so.
02:29But yeah, we're also focused on that, especially because when you are developing talent, youth players through the Masia, it's something we like to put in the minds and the style of the football.
02:37Also because I think we believe it makes it easier for the kids to progress throughout the different ages and teams looking to get opportunities for the first team.
02:46Barca may be the ones who are easy on the eye, but no one can deny that Real Madrid's trophy cabinet speaks for itself.
02:53A record 15 European Cups as well as 36 La Liga titles, they are one of the most successful clubs in the world.
03:03They were recently crowned the greatest team in the world with their success at the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, with high importance placed on winning this and every trophy.
03:13For the history, for the tradition of the club, we have to try for the quality of this player, we have to try to compete in every competition.
03:20Are we able to be in all the competitions? Of course not, but our goal is to try to compete.
03:27We competed really well, we had the strength, the luck, the commitment to be able to win a lot in 2024.
03:35This gives us the confidence to try to compete and to go the same in 2025.
03:41We are following the history of the team, there are a lot of titles that make history.
03:49Not all players can wear this jersey and not everyone has the opportunity to play for the biggest team in the world.
03:57Every game we play is to win, especially when it's a final and a trophy for Real Madrid,
04:03that we always want to be at the top and it's not just any trophy that we won today.
04:08We are delighted and crowned as the best club in the world.
04:12So, now we know about the fabric of each club, let's learn just what it's like to play in the iconic El Clásico fixture.
04:20Well, it's definitely one of the games you try to spot on the calendar and the fixtures as soon as they come out.
04:25Obviously, as a professional, definitely one of the biggest games you can play in your career.
04:29Best clubs in the world, best players in the world, best, probably, atmosphere in the world.
04:33For me, it was energetic, energizing in the sense of, obviously, when you play away as a motivation rather than intimidation.
04:39When you play at home, they just take you. It's unbelievable.
04:42When I play in the cup, no. So, obviously, imagine 90,000 people behind you. It's unbelievable, yeah.
04:47Late last year, Barcelona and Real Madrid legends, including the likes of Figo, Ronaldinho and David Villa,
04:54landed in Qatar and played in front of over 30,000 adoring fans in Doha.
04:59Barcelona reigned supreme as Geoffrey Mateu scored the winning penalty.
05:04After the game, we asked him why this rivalry appeals to fans across the world
05:09and what it's like to renew the rivalry as a retired player.
05:12Always, you know, the expectation is huge, always.
05:15But we feel like, I think it's special for us to transfer that the competition is there,
05:20but we can be friends, we can just compete, but, you know, in a fair play game.
05:24And I think all the players that today were involved in the game, you know, the behavior was extraordinary, it was good.
05:31So, you can play to win, but you can show that the behavior can be like the sport itself.
05:37Even after 122 years of matches, the intense rivalry in Spain continues to grow.
05:44So, which side of the fence do you sit on, Barcelona or Real Madrid?
05:48Let us know using the hashtag footballnowlclassico.
05:52That's all we've got time for here from the Albeit Stadium in Qatar.
05:56We'll see you next time. Bye for now.