THE GAP
Real Madrid and Barcelona FC are the two heavy weights of world football. The best two clubs currently in the world are also known for their rivalry in Spanish football to what they as El Clasico when these two clubs meet each other.
Recently the El Clasico has become more like a Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. Messi, right-winger of Barcelona while Ronaldo cuts from the left flank for Madrid. The two best clubs having the two best players in the world is again no surprise. Real Madrid and Barcelona met on 7th October 2012 and the match ended as a draw 2-2. Two goals by Messi and two by Ronaldo.
When you look at Spanish football today all you see is Barcelona and Real Madrid whereas the rest 18 other teams competing in the same competition has no competition to offer to the likes of these two heavy weights.
You have to go back 8 years in 2004 when the last Spanish club to win The LA LIGA was not Barcelona or Real Madrid. It was Valencia FC. Unfortunately, these 8 years have been shared by Real and Barca. And by the looks of it 8 more years like these are very much possible. Spanish football viewers in the world have been declining because of this and the financial gap between the rest 18 and both these clubs have grown massively.
No club can match revenues like Real and Barca in Spain for what it has been called a two horse race. The footballing youth in Spain has one dream which is to play for either Real or Barca as professional footballer.
Real Madrid’s policy of winning throughout the years have been money orientated for which they have been criticized since they own half of the Spanish Stock Market, but what attracts footballers is the history and legends associated with this club. Players like Zidane, Suker, Casillas, Raul, Figo, Ronaldo have all worn the Real jersey. They have the most Spanish domestic titles and 9 times have been crowned European Champions which is the most. AC Milan follows Madrid by winning 5. Barcelona on the other hand is a club known to make legends and not buy them. A strong academy system has produced number of talents and the philosophy of their game plan is beautiful. Technically known as Total Football.
The concern here is that if these two clubs continue to dominate the Spanish Football, the Gap between these two will minimize over time but will grow a lot with other Spanish clubs in the country running for the same competition. I am not sure what will happen in future but I can sense it will be more harm than good and as a football fan it will be hard to swallow.
Real Madrid and Barcelona FC are the two heavy weights of world football. The best two clubs currently in the world are also known for their rivalry in Spanish football to what they as El Clasico when these two clubs meet each other.
Recently the El Clasico has become more like a Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. Messi, right-winger of Barcelona while Ronaldo cuts from the left flank for Madrid. The two best clubs having the two best players in the world is again no surprise. Real Madrid and Barcelona met on 7th October 2012 and the match ended as a draw 2-2. Two goals by Messi and two by Ronaldo.
When you look at Spanish football today all you see is Barcelona and Real Madrid whereas the rest 18 other teams competing in the same competition has no competition to offer to the likes of these two heavy weights.
You have to go back 8 years in 2004 when the last Spanish club to win The LA LIGA was not Barcelona or Real Madrid. It was Valencia FC. Unfortunately, these 8 years have been shared by Real and Barca. And by the looks of it 8 more years like these are very much possible. Spanish football viewers in the world have been declining because of this and the financial gap between the rest 18 and both these clubs have grown massively.
No club can match revenues like Real and Barca in Spain for what it has been called a two horse race. The footballing youth in Spain has one dream which is to play for either Real or Barca as professional footballer.
Real Madrid’s policy of winning throughout the years have been money orientated for which they have been criticized since they own half of the Spanish Stock Market, but what attracts footballers is the history and legends associated with this club. Players like Zidane, Suker, Casillas, Raul, Figo, Ronaldo have all worn the Real jersey. They have the most Spanish domestic titles and 9 times have been crowned European Champions which is the most. AC Milan follows Madrid by winning 5. Barcelona on the other hand is a club known to make legends and not buy them. A strong academy system has produced number of talents and the philosophy of their game plan is beautiful. Technically known as Total Football.
The concern here is that if these two clubs continue to dominate the Spanish Football, the Gap between these two will minimize over time but will grow a lot with other Spanish clubs in the country running for the same competition. I am not sure what will happen in future but I can sense it will be more harm than good and as a football fan it will be hard to swallow.
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