There aren’t many games in world football that come close to matching the importance of El Clasico, whether it’s for neutrals or the teams involved.
This Saturday’s Clasico is the first since Joan Laporta returned to Barcelona as president, and it’s a game that he would have been waiting for since winning the election a month ago.
He oversaw seven away Clasicos during his last spell as president, and he celebrated four wins in those. More than winning over half of those played away under his presidency, Barcelona enjoyed some memorable nights as well.
The historic 6-2 happened during his tenure, as did that famous night that saw Ronaldinho given an ovation from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
It’s not needed, but this Saturday’s game and Laporta‘s return will have extra spice added to it, particularly given how the president’s election campaign went, with a large advertisement being hung just 100 metres from the Bernabeu in an attempt to provoke Real Madrid.
Laporta‘s first Clasico ended with a 2-1 win in the capital, though Valencia went on to win the title that season. Barcelona lost 4-2 the following year, but then came a historic 3-0 win in which Samuel Eto’o and Ronaldinho scored.
That game is best remembered for Ronaldinho being applauded for his performance, as Real Madrid‘s fans surrendered to his excellence.
“It gives me satisfaction and pride to see opposing fans recognising our football,” Laporta said then. “It was one of those games that you never wanted to end.”
After that, though, Barcelona left the capital empty handed on their next two visits, losing 2-0 in 2006/07 and again in 2008.
Two wins from his last two visits
But that’s where his Clasico defeats stopped. In 2008/09, they won that famous 6-2 with Pep Guardiola on the bench. That day, Carles Puyol scoring and kissing his Catalan flag on the captain’s armband was one of the standout images.
Laporta bowed out as Barcelona president with another win at the Bernabeu, which was his fourth in seven games, with Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez deciding the game.
He won’t be sitting in a box at Real Madrid‘s temporary home this weekend, but Laporta will no doubt be counting down the hours until kick off on Saturday night.
