When the final whistle blew at the Bernabeu in the first of the four Clasicos between Real Madrid and Barcelona, it was kick-off time for the Spanish media. The two most successful and widely followed football clubs in the country share a unique rivalry and that extends to the partisan publications in the nation.

Madrid are largely and staunchly backed by two major national dailies, Marca and AS, and it comes as no surprise that both the sports papers perceive the point shared with Pep Guardiola’s team on Saturday evening as an encouraging sign.
With an image of Pepe clenching his fists on its main page after Cristiano Ronaldo’s successfully converted penalty kick, Marca explains that although the nine-time European champions failed to win, they “kept their pride” in a game that was “vibrant and controversial”, adding that although the league is now over for them, they will “head into the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday with their heads held high”.
AS praised Mourinho’s side who drew the match despite going down to ten men after defender Raul Albiol was sent off. It defined the game as a “tie between football and passion” with writer Juanma Trueba commenting that the encounter was “in many ways perfect for Mourinho, who avoided defeat despite ending the game with ten men”.
Trueba also supported the Portuguese in his complaint that Daniel Alves should have been sent off after his challenge on Barcelona in the penalty area in the second-half that earned Madrid the spot-kick.
Understandably, the Catalan media were going gaga over Barcelona’s draw that effectively secures them the Liga title. With six more rounds of matches remaining in the championship this season, they are eight points clear at the top of the table.
The front page of the web edition of Catalan daily Sport reads “In Madrid, the title” with the image of Lionel Messi beating Iker Casillas from the spot spread under it. The paper believes that it “ was a shame” that Barcelona’s “superiority” did not pay off and that they did not get their due reward.
El Mundo Deportivo explains that the match was uneven and that Barcelona deserved to gain maximum points. Referee Muniz Fernandez? comes under the spotlight for his decisions too.
(Source: Goal)