‘Will this season’s matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona be called El Classico?’ – Manasseh Azure Awuni
Famed Ghanaian investigative journalist who has exposed several scandals and saving the country millions of cedis, Manasseh Azure Awuni has wondered what this season’s clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona would be called.
Undoubtedly the two biggest football teams in the world, matches between the two Spanish giants have a different taste and feel to normal football matches. The term given to matches between the two sides is El Classico (The Classic) and is considered one of the most-watched games between clubs aside from the UEFA champions league final.
However, the euphoria attached to the El Classico may be something of history given the signals of the bad performances of the two teams this season. Real Madrid is without any standout big name since the departure of Christiano Ronaldo to Juventus in 2018 and though Eden Hazard was brought in with the hope of continuing the galactico line, he has not hit full speed at the Spanish capital as at yet. Former Los Blancos captain, Sergio Ramos who has been one of the main characters in Classico matches in the last few years aside from Messi and Ronaldo has also swapped the La Liga for the French Ligue 1 and is now a teammate with former rival Lionel Messi.
Barcelona had Lionel Messi, one of the two biggest names in global football and a six-time Ballon d’Or winner in their ranks until financial crisis aided by the Covid-19 pandemic led to his departure to Ligue 1 with Paris Saint Germain. That has left an unrecognizable squad at the Catalan club who are struggling to sort their feet out under Ronald Koeman.
After eight rounds of matches in the league this season, the two giants are still playing at unrecognizable low standards. An argument could be made for Real Madrid that they are leading the league table but a slump at home to Champions League debutants Sheriff Tiraspol at the Bernabeu has left a sour taste in the tongues of many fans. A 2-1 defeat away to Espanyol in the league on October 3, has added more weight to those arguing that they are still miles behind their glory days despite being on top of the league and not losing in the league until against the White and Blue.
Barcelona has suffered back to back 3-0 defeats in the champions league, their worst in the competition’s history. They also slumped to a defeat in matchday 8 in the league against a somewhat stronger opponent than Real’s opponents in Atletico Madrid. That accompanied with three draws in the league has piled pressure on Manger, Koeman with reports rife in the media ahead of their match against Atletico Madrid yesterday about his eminent dismal that forced club President Joan Laporta to back him ahead of the match.
Manasseh is not known for sports but he definitely must have also gotten worried about the slump in fortunes of the two biggest football teams in the world and is doubtful what the name for the matches between them this season should be called. He posted his question on his Facebook timeline soon after Real Madrid lost away from home to Espanyol.
The teams will first meet in a classic match this season on October 24, at the Nou Camp before again meeting on January 2022, in the Supercoppa Espana semi-final. They will then face off at the Santiago Bernabeu for the league reverse on March 20.
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
