Ronaldinho's ovation, Barca's guard of honour and other Clasico classics

We've looked back at five of the most memorable matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona ahead of Saturday's Clasico clash.

Published : Dec 20, 2017 20:31 IST

Barcelona can take a "huge step" towards the La Liga title in this weekend's Clasico clash with Real Madrid, according to captain Andres Iniesta.
Barcelona can take a "huge step" towards the La Liga title in this weekend's Clasico clash with Real Madrid, according to captain Andres Iniesta.
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Barcelona can take a "huge step" towards the La Liga title in this weekend's Clasico clash with Real Madrid, according to captain Andres Iniesta.

Barcelona can take a "huge step" towards the La Liga title in this weekend's Clasico clash with Real Madrid, according to captain Andres Iniesta.

With Barca holding an 11-point lead over Madrid - which has a game in hand - the champion cannot afford any more slip-ups if it is to retain hope of defending its title.

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Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona heads to the capital in fine form, having demolished Deportivo La Coruna last time out, while Madrid may be affected from its exertions at the Club World Cup.

Whatever happens in Saturday's meeting it promises to be another memorable match - let's look back at five of the best Clasico meetings it has to live up to...

READ: Easy on the La Liga hype!

Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona, May 2009

Losing a Clasico is bad enough, but losing one at home and in such humiliating fashion is something else.

In May 2009, Real Madrid was on a run of 17 wins in 18 matches and got off to a positive start, with Gonzalo Higuain scoring in the 14th minute, before Barcelona took over and blitzed its host.

Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi each scored a brace each, while defenders Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique netted one apiece.

That win proved to be the final nail in the coffin of Madrid's title challenge, as Barca went on to claim La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey success in Pep Guardiola's first season at the helm.

READ: El Clasico: Top 5 encounters between arch-rivals

Real Madrid 2-3 Barcelona, April 2017

The last time Barca visited the Bernabeu in La Liga, Messi stole the show as he inspired a 3-2 win for Luis Enrique's men.

The Argentinian cancelled out Casmiro's opener, before Ivan Rakitic put Barca ahead with 17 minutes to go.

Sergio Ramos' red card for scything Messi down should have ended their hopes, only for James Rodriguez to seemingly salvage Madrid a point five minutes from time.

But Messi brilliantly struck right at the end with his 500th Barcelona goal, before taking off his shirt and holding it out with his name facing the Madrid support in a now iconic celebration.

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Real Madrid 0-3 Barcelona, November 2005

Real Madrid fans have seen some truly wonderful players grace the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu, but how many Barca players have had such an impact they have been applauded by the home supporters? Not many, that is for certain.

However, Ronaldinho had that honour in November 2005. The Brazilian superstar produced a remarkable display as Barca tore Madrid apart in an emphatic 3-0 win.

Ronaldinho scored twice, but it was his second that really left that in attendance marvelling, as he jinked past Ramos and Ivan Helguera before producing a rasping finish at the end of a 50-yard run. It will be long remembered as a vintage Clasico goal.

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Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona, May 2008

With Real Madrid already wrapping up the title before Barca's visit in May 2008, tradition dictated that the Catalan club gave its host a guard of honour.

And so, there they stood either side of the Madrid team as it walked on to the pitch, something Carles Puyol later voiced his understandable displeasure at.

Things were to get even more humiliating, as the home side went on to claim a crushing 4-1 win thanks to goals from Raul, Arjen Robben, Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"The final stab in the supporters' back", read the headline in Catalan newspaper Sport . Barca has ruled out a repeat this weekend despite Madrid's Club World Cup triumph.

READ: Messi and Ronaldo primed for classic festive argument

Real Madrid 5-0 Barcelona, January 1995

On January 8 1994, Michael Laudrup was a key part of a Barcelona team which trounced Real Madrid 5-0 on its way to a fourth successive La Liga title.

Fast-forward almost exactly 12 months to January 7 1995 and Laudrup was on the other team after committing the cardinal sin of leaving Barca for Madrid, a move which came about because of a falling out with Johan Cruyff.

The score was exactly the same and once again Laudrup was at the heart of things, but this time it was an Ivan Zamorano-inspired Madrid dismantling its opponents, smashing it 5-0 in what proved to be the perfect revenge for Los Blancos and their great Dane. Madrid would go on to win the title.

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