Barça’s Historic Clásico Victories in Madrid.

 

Barça’s demolition of Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu was a thing of beauty. Even though it was not a “Manita,” it still ranks as one of the greatest wins on enemy ground.

Barça’s 4-0 win against Real Madrid was surprising and very pleasant for the Blaugrana faithful. It was one sided as Barça dominated their arch enemy on enemy grounds. We are used to seeing the Blaugrana clobber their arch enemy at the Camp Nou, but at the Bernabéu, well that’s a different story.

 

There’s the Johan Cruyff inspired5-0 victory during the 1974-1975 season which was one of the first “Manita” in recent history. Barça would claim another “Manita” during the “Dream Team” era but that took place at the Camp Nou. That team was managed Johan Cruyff.

 

The next big victory on enemy ground would take place during the 1998-1999 season. Barça were victorious in a back and forth encounter that ended in 2-3. Current Barça manager Luis Enrique scored the team’s second with the Brazilians Rivaldo scoring the opener and Giovanni scoring the game winner. This game is also remembered for the “Butifarra” goal celebration by Giovanni after he scored what ended up being the goal winner and thereby infuriating the Madrid fan base.

Ten years ago, we would see the Madrid fans give a standing applause to a Barça legend. Barça defeated Real Madrid 3-0 with Eto’o scoring the opener before Ronaldinho scored a brace in the second half. It was a one sided affair and the match is mostly remembered by Ronaldinho’s display of magic as he scored two amazing goals. After Ronaldinho scored his second goal, some Madrid fans got out of their seats to applaud the player. This was an act that had not occurred since Maradona’s goal in the 2-2 draw in the first leg of the 1982-1983 defunct League Cup.

Nevertheless, the most memorable result is the 2-6 victory during the 2008-2009 treble season. The buildup to this match was immense with both teams neck and neck in the standings and the league title was bound for whoever would win this match. Madrid took the lead before Barça scored three unanswered goals through Henry, Puyol and Messi. Madrid pulled one back early in the second half to make it 2-3 before Barça scored three another unanswered goals through Henry, Messi and Pique.

Pique was furious when Munir scoffed his chance at scoring the fifth goal during the last Clásico. Barça’s 4-0 win was too easy from the opening whistle and that was with Messi on the bench. Suárez and Neymar scored the first two goals in the first half before Iniesta and Suárez scored the other two goals in the second half. It could have been, and should have been, five had Munir converted on his chances or left his first chance to Pique to score from close range.

Those results are Barça’s “Manita” of big wins on their arch enemy’s grounds in recent history. Which one is your favorite?

The Double Standards of RFEF towards Barça is pathetic.

Another Clásico came and went and once again, we got to encounter another controversy regarding Mourinho’s Real Madrid. Everyone saw Pepe’s intentional act of stepping on Messi’s hand and although no swift action was taken, it was expected that the RFEF would use video evidence to go after Pepe. Unfortunately, RFEF failed to punish Pepe and he was back in the starting lineup. This was just another example of how the RFEF have double standards and quite frankly it is getting to be pathetic.

With Madridistas whining about Barça getting calls in their favor and calling for Villarato, this past week gave us another fine example of how it truly is Barça against Spanish football figureheads. The recent Copa Clásicos presented viewers a unique chance to see every angle imaginable thanks to the 28 cameras available at the Santiago Bernabéu. Well, we have all grown accustomed to the Madrid players’ dirty and pathetic cheap shots on Barça players, especially when they are down.  Nevertheless, it still surprised us all that Pepe intentionally stepped on Messi’s hand. He got away it on the pitch but we were certain that the RFEF would sure that he would get disciplined for that act.

Yet, there was Pepe starting in the starting lineup in yesterday’s game. The RFEF opted not to lay a finger on a man who stepped on another player’s hands. How could this be? It was another obvious sign of double standards from the RFEF and a shining example of how inept they truly are. Their competitive neighbors, the Premier League, wasted no time in making sure Mario Balotelli would get suspended for his actions on Sunday. Replays showed Balotelli stamping on Scott Parker during Sunday’s league encounter between Manchester City and Tottenham. The FA charged him two days later with violent conduct and he is awaiting his punishment.

Meanwhile over in Spain, we all waited and waited yet nothing seemed to happen. No word on any action against Pepe came during the weekend. So we all expected a final decision to be made yesterday, on the day of the second leg. Unfortunately, the RFEF and its Competition Committee decided not to punish Pepe because there was no mention of Pepe’s incident in the referee’s report. The decision in not punishing Pepe was an insult to not just all Cules, but to all football fans across world.

However, Barça fans had to be aggrieved. How could they not punish Pepe? Why is it that the RFEF has different standards when it comes to punishing Barcelona players and punishing Real Madrid players? Back in the 1999-2000 season, the RFEF had no problem punishing Barça player Patrick Kluivert for punching Rayo Vallecano’s Cota by banning him for five matches. That was a league match and the incident was missed by the officials but caught by the cameras. So why was Kluivert banned while Pepe walked?

Speaking of Pepe; it was also ironic that the RFEF failed to punish him last season too for his Butifarra gestures after celebrating Ronaldo’s goal in the Copa Del Rey Final. When these two sides last met in the Copa Del Rey back in the 96-97 season, Brazilian striker Giovanni scored what turned out to be the game winning goal in Madrid. He is famously remembered by Barça fans for celebrating that goal with his Butifarra gestures in front of the Madrid crowd. However, the RFEF was not too pleased and he was banned for two games. Now fast-forward to last season’s Copa Del Rey Final. Pepe committed the same act and yet, he escaped punishment from the RFEF. Even UEFA punished former Barça player Mark van Bommel with a fine a few years ago when he committed the same gesture after scoring against Real Madrid in the Bernabéu for Bayern Munich.

 

Yet, the RFEF and its Competition Committee failed to punish Pepe twice now when they punished Barça player for similar conduct and actions in the past. Madrid may cry Villarato as much as they want, but the RFEF’s cowardly decision not to punish Pepe at all just shows that perhaps the Spanish capital club is the club that is getting the favors after all. We know he won't get punished for attempting to step on Dani Alves too yesterday.