To Clasico or not to Clasico

Hence comes the conclusion of yet another El Clasico. As the commentator said before the match, “There have been 15 clasico’s in the past 2 years, each one more important than the last.”

But was what we saw today really a Clasico?

To Clasico or not to Clasico, that is the question. Of course many would argue that the rightful definition of an El Clasico is any game in which FC Barcelona plays their century old rivals Real Madrid CF.

  But is that all El Clasico is?

As a passionate fan of Spanish football El Clasico has come to mean so much more than just a game, played by so much more than just players, between so much more than just teams, representing so much more than just clubs.

El Clasico is the game which looks like the sunrise at dawn on a slightly chilly morning.

It’s a game which smells like the delightful aroma of freshly baked bread. 

It tastes like a crispy apple, with sweet juices coating your lips. 

It feels like a warm embrace on a cold day. 

It sounds like the hearts of millions tied together in a cry of pain, sigh of pleasure and shout of victory.
                                               

Today? I’m not so sure.

Yes. Ronaldo hid away in a corner for most of the game, stepping out to score goals and then throwing a tantrum when he couldn’t. 
Nothing new. 
Although, I do feel I should defend him a little (someone has to do it); he was the Captain of a team he normally does not captain, he had the weight of the best players, legends of the club, being left out of the squad and felt the need to prove his worth in comparison to Messi as well as holding up the struggling Madrid squad still running a now impossible league race against the very team on their pitch.

Yes. Messi shone bright, he did everything he could, he assisted the cute little Cesc Fabregas and his even cuter little goal. 

He played wonderful football but as in El Clasico’s past Messi, like Ronaldo, didn’t finish like his normal self.

Yes. The referee was completely insane and made us feel like we wanted to admit him into a psychiatric institute as in El Clasico’s past.

The referee ignored Messi’s being tripped constantly near the box by inexperienced young defenders, he turned away at sweet Iniesta being completely mauled in front of his very eyes and, as if that wasn’t enough, did not give Xabi Alonso a yellow card until the very last moments. I love Xabi but he’s one of those players I would give a card to before the game even started – to save myself the trouble during the game of course. And then there is Ozil, a player I respect almost as much as Iniesta and Xavi. When Ozil is tripped he doesn’t act, he protests, yes. But he’s respectable and there is more often than not, a rightful reason why Ozil falls and should be awarded a free kick or foul on his behalf as Iniesta and Messi should have been also. Small players are often disadvantaged on a pitch, hence their discovery of skill and brilliance but brawl sometimes gets the better of them but it is so wonderful to see these men understand their position and keep their calm and react in a dignified manner when they are wronged.

Yes. Arbeloa and Xabi were their loveable selves – harming the smaller Barcelona men and being harmed by the otherwise inefficient referee. Fanning the otherwise dulled flame of competition between the Spaniards in each team (with the lack of Iker and Ramos this seemed less highlighted in this El Clasico).

Yes. FC Barcelona was without their first choice goal keeper, for no fault of Madrid’s of course, one of our few inter-club issues which often conveniently occur before El Clasico’s to give FC Barcelona fans an incredibly inhumane heart rate with the risk of a stroke. But Victor Valdes simply wants to get his Bayern on. And other than that (and my personal view on the situation of a certain “best striker in Spain,” El Guaje Villa who is not at his best, which would tremendously advantage Barca) FC Barcelona were on top form. They played beautiful football, because no other word rightfully describes what they do. Every touch, every pass, every second was a moment of brilliance when it came to Barca, to Messi, to Iniesta and of course to the unforgettable wonder that is Xavi.

Despite the pattern, El Clasico did not seem like the complete and full game with which we are only too familiar.

Real Madrid, for no fault of Barca’s of course, were without their Captain and Hero Iker Casillas. Whether or not Mourinho would have chosen Iker were he to be available is another debate but Iker was not there and I am a firm believer that El Clasico cannot be El Clasico without Iker Casillas.

For Barca fans, imagine an El Clasico without Messi, Iniesta or Xavi. It wouldn’t be an El Clasico really, we’d just call it…a game. We’d dismiss it as low as any EPL match or A-League situation. A Game. Two words which mean so much and so little when beside El Clasico. The Game.

Sure, as an endearingly emotional supporter of the Spanish National Football Team Iker is my superman; even though I am a die hard “FC Barcelona: More than a Club” fan. He is the Captain of Madrid. He is the golden hands which carried Spain. El Clasico is the game in which the two SPANISH giants meet on a football pitch hosting the worlds greatest players. Iker was one of those great players, a legend of Madrid, a legend of Spain, a legend amongst goal keepers everywhere in every nation and tongue.

Both clubs were without their first choice goal keepers and although both Pinto and Lopez were fantastic replacements,

            El Clasico minus Iker Casillas is just Un Clasico.

As if that wasn’t enough Madrid were also without three FIFA first eleven participants on the defensive line up. 

Sergio Ramos, Pepe and Marcelo. 

If I do say so myself, three of the best defenders in the world – apart from Pique, Puyol, Dani Alves and the up and coming young Jordi Alba of course. 

Alongside this statement I note that this “Un Clasico” was without…incident. 

There were no unnecessary brawls between players, no poking opposite team assistant managers in the eye, no Hollywood drama and not even any debates between coaches and players from opposite teams. 

Now you see why I question the validity of this Clasico.

But, of course, these mentions are portrayed parallel to each other. 

We are all aware of Ramos’s talent, strength and yet cheeky boldness in, earlier, pushing his beloved and respected friend Puyol harshly away. 

We are even more aware of Marcelo’s dear racism scandal with a certain Busquetz, as well as both of their mischievious actions on and off the pitch, playful banter of course but it adds a little flavor in the El Clasico concoction. 

Last, but certainly a lot more than the least is the loveable Pepe. 

Pepe is the bald villain whose sole aim in life is to destroy Messi (I wouldn’t be surprised if he had handed the baton temporarily to Raphael Varane). 

Pepe’s murderous actions were poorly mirrored in the seemingly innocent Varane; he cant even hurt Messi as well as Pepe. No one can.

Real Madrid and all of the “Un Clasico” as we have thus far determined, were without their most scandalous players and although Varane was a replacement of some worth in the “incident” department,

            El Clasico minus scandal is simply class.

Class is Messi, it’s Iniesta, it’s Xavi.

It’s the feeling of awe at an intricate painting, it’s the admiration for a brilliant mind, it’s the respect for remaining Liverpool fans despite their team’s current state in football, John Terry when he refrains from randomly spazzing at a footballer in another team, its Torres when he scores a goal, Ronaldo when he praises any other player than himself, Pepe when he gives Messi a hand up, Pep Guardiola when he creates the best football team the world has ever seen, Tito when he carry’s the team despite his battle with cancer, FC Barcelona when their successful passes create the most amazing goal a heart can appreciate.

Today’s game was a moment of pure class but I wouldn’t go so far as to classify it an “El Clasico.”

The call has been put out for the match at the Camp Nou.

How will Madrid answer?

evieroo