Newly crowned Spanish league champions – Barcelona host their eternal rivals – Real Madrid from the Spanish capital in the 271st El Clasico meeting (friendlies included). This fixture is the most anticipated in La Liga calendar every season and this one isn’t any different. In recent time, this is the second clasico taking place after a champion has emerged. In 2007/08 season under Bernd Schuster, Real Madrid won the title before hosting Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu and the Catalan giants were gracious enough to perform the passilo which is the guard of honor activity given to crowned champions. Fast forward to present day, Barcelona clinched the title last week and one would naturally expect Real Madrid to reciprocate same. However, there is a twist or change of approach from the Madrid giants who have used various sources through their captain Sergio Ramos and Coach Zinedine Zidane to reject performing this acceptable ritual.
Sergio Ramos said “Barca have the title, which is what they wanted, but there will be no guard of honour full stop”. Zinedine Zidane gave a clearer perspective during his pre-match press conference on his club’s position. He said, “I am not the one who decides if there is a pasillo.”We must explain the situation – after the Club World Cup I understand it was not important for them to do it. “Some say it is as they were not in the competition, but that is not true. You have to win the Champions League to get to the Club World Cup, and we are all in that. “So they did not do it. We respect what Barca have done, to win La Liga is the most difficult, I have always said that. I congratulate them. “If they had done the pasillo… I am not breaking any tradition, but neither will I do something that they did not do.”
Barcelona are 15 points better than their rivals as we head into the 237th competitive meeting between the two Spanish giants. Los Cules have wrapped up the league title and also won the Copa del Rey while Real Madrid made it to their third consecutive Champions League finals.
In addition, outgoing Barcelona captain and midfield maestro Andres Iniesta will be competing in his final El Clasico. The former Albacete youth player has made 37 appearances in these fixtures and will be remembered for this valuable contributions to Barcelona’s 6-2 win at the Bernabeu in 2009, 5-0 win at the Camp Nou the following year and another 4-0 win in Madrid in November 2015. All in all, he has scored three goals and recorded six assists.
Will he score or give another assist tonight? Predict and win big in El Clasico by visiting Babaijebu.ng
There is a school of thought which believes that Real Madrid should rise above pettiness and give the newly crowned champions the deserved respect. What do you think?
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