El Clásico (English: The Classic), also known as El derbi Español or El Clàssic, is the name given to any football match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is contested twice a year in the Spanish La Liga competition, and more often if the clubs meet in other competitions. Other than the UEFA Champions League Final, it is the most followed club football match in the world, watched by hundreds of millions of people.
The rivalry comes about as Madrid and Barcelona are the two largest cities in Spain, and the two clubs are the richest, most successful and influential football clubs in the country. Real Madrid has amassed 73 trophies and Barcelona 68, while Athletic Bilbao comes third with 32 trophies. They are sometimes identified with opposing political positions, with Real Madrid viewed as representing Spanish nationalism, and Barcelona viewed as representing Catalan nationalism.
April 2011 might see the two Spanish giant Barcelona and Real Madrid facing each other up to four times in just 15 days, hence April could be known as the ‘Month of El Clasico’. Considering the Copa del Rey, La Liga and Champions League, football fans across the world might witness the arch rival play four big matches against each other.
With Barcelona defeating Almeria 5-0 and Real Madrid beating Sevilla 3-0 on aggregate scores in the Copa del Rey semis, the two sides will be meeting for a mouth-watering Copa del Rey final on April 20. Prior to that, they will be meeting for their schedule La Liga clash on April 17, 2011 at Santiago Bernabeu.
The two Spanish Giants are also likely to meet each other in the Champions league, provided Barcelona wins against Arsenal and Real Madrid wins against Lyon in the knock out stage. If both the teams succeed, quarterfinals would be the first stage of the Champions League in which two teams from the same country could face each other. The quarter finals will take place on April 5/6 and April 12/13.
Even if the two teams do not play each other in the Quarter Finals, there could still be a Champions ‘Clasico’ in the semi finals if both teams succeed in quarters which will take place on April 26/27 and May 3/4. el clasico 2011 live stream Real Madrid vs barcelona