5 greatest El Clasico moments in recent history

El Clasico in Spain always throws up talking points and controversies in abundance, as two of the country’s biggest and most successful teams – Real Madrid and Barcelona – go head-to-head to prove their supremacy over one another. In the build-up to this weekend’s El Clasico, we take a look at the 5 greatest moments that came in matches between the two sides in recent seasons.

5. Barcelona give Real Madrid the guard of honour

Barcelona players give Real Madrid a guard of honour before their game.

Barcelona and Real Madrid were to face off against each other on May 7, 2008, but the usual sting and anticipation that surrounds an El Clasico game was hardly present that day.

Real Madrid had already won the league before the game kicked off, and as they were stepping onto the field, the Barcelona team formed a guard of honour to salute them and their achievements that season. To further compound their misery, Real Madrid beat them 4-1, depriving the Catalans of an automatic Champions League qualification berth.

Xavi called the guard of honour, or the pasillo, as it is called in Spain, the most humiliating experience of his life.