Top 10 memorable El Clasico matches

Messi scored a double at the Bernabeu last season.

Ahead of Saturday’s mouthwatering El Clasico clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Bernabeu, we look back at 10 past matches between the two bitter rivals in years gone by.

10) PIG’S HEAD THROWN AT FIGO

Former Barcelona star Luis Figo, who crossed the divide to join Los Blancos for a then world-record fee of €60m back in 2000, stirred up much controversy over the move. Indeed, in his second visit back to his old stomping ground as a Madrid player, he was pelted with many objects – including a pig’s head – as he went to take a corner. The encounter, which finished 0-0, was abandoned for several minutes while the authorities tried to keep the hatred of the Catalonian crowd underwraps. (November 2002).

9. LATE RONALDO HEADER SECURES CUP FINAL WIN

The 2010-11 season was dominated by Barcelona, with Pep Guardiola’s men winning both La Liga and the Champions League – but Jose Mourinho’s side denied their rivals a treble by winning the Copa del Rey trophy. Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning extra-time header was enough to put a small cog in the wheel of Barca’s dominance. (April 2011).

8. REAL BEAT BARCA EN-ROUTE TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GLORY

Zinedine Zidane got one, and Steve McManaman the other – both goals being delicious chips – as Madrid defeated Blaugrana 2-0 in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final clash at the Nou Camp. The two sides finished all-square at one apiece in the return as Real went onto lift the trophy that season, thanks again to a ZZ special against Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park. (April 2002).

7. DEMOLITION JOB PUTS REAL TO SHAME IN CATALONIA

In arguably one of the best performances under Guardiola’s trophy-laden reign, Barcelona thrashed the Whites 5-0 on home turf. Goals from Xavi, a brace from David Villa, Pedro and Jeffren shook Madrid to the core in a dominant display in which Sergio Ramos also saw red. (November 2010).

6. MESSI SHIRT STAND-OFF WITH BERNABEU

The Argentine genius scored a brilliant last-minute goal, his 500th strike in a Barcelona jersey, to hand the away side a famous 3-2 victory at the Nou Camp. Although Real still went on to lift the La Liga title last term, Messi’s celebration – in which he took off his shirt and held his name and number up towards the Bernabeu faithful – will live long in the memory. (April 2017).

5. GUARD OF HONOUR EMBARRSSES BARCELONA

Real celebrated their 2008 La Liga title success in style as Barcelona were forced to form a guard of honour to welcome their rivals onto the pitch in an end-of-season clash. To make matters worse for the travelling side, Bernd Schuster’s Whites ran out 4-1 winners in a convincing, celebratory display. (May 2008).

4. MESSI NETS FIRST EL CLASICO HAT-TRICK

The mercurial No.10 is the leading all-time goalscorer in El Clasico meetings, having netted 24 times in the fixture over the years. It was back in 2007, though, where he made his first real telling contribution – scoring a hat-trick in a 3-3 home draw with Real. (March 2007).

3. ALL APPLAUD BRILLIANT BRAZILIAN RONNIE

It’s not often the Bernabeu crowd cheers a Barcelona player, actually, that never happens. Well, in 2005, we witnessed the unthinkable. Ronaldinho, who was easily the world’s best player then, scored two goals in a 3-0 Barcelona win and was so good that the Madrid fans stood and applauded his performance. It was one of the those pinch yourself moments. (November 2005).

2. GALACTICOS PUT ON A SHOW IN STUNNING CONTEST

Barcelona cruised to a 17th La Liga title back in the 2004-05 campaign but this was one of the rare occasions that Madrid’s Galactico side came together and produced the goods as one. Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul and Michael Owen all got on the scoresheet for the Whites as Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s men recorded a 4-2 win. Ronaldinho also netted a superb free-kick goal for Barca. (April 2005).

1. MESSI SCORES SUPERB HAT-TRICK IN THRILLING BARCA WIN

Magic man Messi scored a stunning hat-trick in a vital 4-3 success for Barcelona at the home of their rivals, which ultimately proved a crucial title decider. Barca went on to win the 2014 La Liga crown, finishing on 94 points – just two ahead of Real. (March 2014).

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