Best Rivalries of World Soccer

Best Rivalries of World Soccer — page 1

Best Rivalries of World Soccer — page 2 — TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 LOS CLÁSICOS CHAPTER 2 4 EUROPEAN RIVALRIES 14 CHAPTER 3 AROUND THE WORLD 26 CHAPTER 4 NATIONAL PRIDE 34 GLOSSARY 46 INDEX 47 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 47

Best Rivalries of World Soccer — page 3 — MASCHERAND CHAPTER 1 14 unicef QATAR AIRWAYS Fly Emirates LOS CLÁSICOS 4 A pass from Lionel Messi considered by many to be the world's best player set up Barcelona teammate Andrés Iniesta for the opening goal just seven minutes into the game Karim Benzema one of the world's most dangerous strikers answered with a goal for Real Madrid only 13 minutes later

Best Rivalries of World Soccer — page 4 — 3 3 2 1 Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema lines up a shot against Barcelona in one of their 2014 El Clásico showdowns More than 85,000 fans erupted in cheers at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Matches between Spain's most powerful men's club teams are nicknamed El Clásico or The Classic And this meeting on March 23 2014 soon became one of the most memorable El Clásicos in the rivalry's long and storied history The Frenchman Benzema dressed in the iconic all white uniform of Real Madrid put his team up 2 with a right-footed goal in the 24th minute Just before halftime Messi in the blue-and-dark-red-striped shirt of Barcelona lurked in Madrid's penalty area When the opportunity came the Argentine slipped the ball into the net At 26 years old Messi now had 19 goals against Real Madrid That made him the leading scorer in El Clásico history However Real Madrid had its own superstar with a claim for being the world's best player in Cristiano Ronaldo And in the 55th minute the Portuguese forward scored on a penalty kick That put Madrid up 3 However Ronaldo's teammate the skilled but at times reckless Spanish defender Sergio Ramos was sent off with a red card a few minutes later Messi tied the game 3 on the ensuing penalty Then in the 84th minute he added another goal from the penalty spot to secure the hat trick and the 4 win It was another iconic El Clásico 5

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