3 d. ago The other clásico: Barcelona and Real Madrid’s rivalry thrives on the basketball court too

The showdown channels centuries of Spanish tension and pride – and may soon collide with the NBA’s ambitions to expand into EuropeScores of fans filed past the silhouettes of cranes and construction work surrounding Barcelona’s Camp Nou last Friday night. But they weren’t there for the world famous soccer stadium. Instead, the sea of Barça jerseys was heading for the club’s basketball arena, the Palau Blaugrana. There was an expectant but apprehensive buzz in the air – the night marked a big occasion: Real Madrid were in town.It’s widely accepted that the biggest rivalry in basketball is between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics; between them they have won almost half of all championships in NBA history. The Lakers-Celtics showdowns of the 1980s went beyond basketball and embodied different Americas: West Coast glitz versus East Coast grit; flashy fastbreak basketball versus fundamentals; and, frankly, though perhaps sometimes oversimplistically, Black versus white. Continue...

Events

2 w. ago Real Madrid: Xabi Alonso confirms decision on Vinicius Jr punishment after El Clasico outburst

The Brazilian has issued an apology for his outburst during Real Madrid’s El Clasico victory

Politics

2 w. ago Vinicius Jr apologises for El Clasico tantrum as Real Madrid make punishment decision

Vinicius Junior threw a strop after being subbed off by Xabi Alonso in the 73rd minute of El Clasico, as his Real Madrid team-mates saw out a 2-1 win against Barcelona

Politics

2 w. ago Vinicius apologises to Real Madrid fans for controversial reaction to El Clasico sub

Vinicius said he had apologised to his team-mates in private following his angry reaction to being substituted against Barcelona

Politics

2 w. ago Real Madrid tensions grow as stars 'disrespected and dissatisfied' by Xabi Alonso

Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 in El Clasico to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to five points - but things haven't been going as smoothly behind the scenes as their results suggest

Events

2 w. ago Vinicius Jr responds to criticism following unsavoury El Clasico clashes

Vinicius stormed down the tunnel following his substitution before re-emerging at full-time to confront the Barcelona players

Politics

2 w. ago Real Madrid handed controversial red card verdict after Arsene Wenger assessment

Real Madrid beat Barcelona in El Clasico on Sunday but there was plenty of drama in the closing stages of the match with one player from each side shown a red card

Politics

2 w. ago Rage against the Lamine: Real Madrid revel in clásico win after cheap talk | Sid Lowe

It was just like old times as Dani Carvajal sparked a full-time ruckus with Barça’s teenage star after his pre-match barbs“As long as I win they can’t say anything,” Lamine Yamal said once, but this time he didn’t win and they were coming for him. They said he spoke too much; they replied that, yeah, they would see him outside; they told him talk is cheap. And that was just the players: there was more from the preachers in their pulpits, men who never lose.On the eve of the clásico, the teenager who claims he left fear behind in Mataró suggested that Real Madrid rob and moan, or so it goes. He also offered a reminder that the last time he had been at the Santiago Bernabéu – a kid with blaugrana braces, a glint in his eye and a right foot they didn’t know he had – he beat them 4-0. But that was then and this was now. And, an adult now, exactly a year on, he was beaten back. He knew, they told him so. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Jude Bellingham's attitude under scrutiny AGAIN as he aims Instagram jibe at Barcelona wonderboy Lamine Yamal, 18, after winning El Clasico for Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham 's attitude has come under fresh scrutiny after the Real Madrid star appeared to mock Barcelona 's Lamine Yamal in a post-match Instagram message following El Clasico.

Politics

2 w. ago Kylian Mbappe earns Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid status after El Clasico heroics vs Barcelona

The French talisman netted his 11th goal for Real Madrid in just 10 La Liga appearances - but his latest strike against Barcelona carried extra weight

Politics

2 w. ago Marcus Rashford singled out by Spanish media as Real Madrid beat Barcelona in El Clasico

Barcelona fell further off La Liga's lead following defeat by Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday, where Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford had a big role to play

Politics

2 w. ago Spanish media single out Marcus Rashford as Barcelona lose to Real Madrid in El Clasico

Marcus Rashford had a big role to play in one of the biggest fixtures of the football calendar as Spanish media ran the rule over Barcelona's defeat in El Clasico

Politics

2 w. ago El Clasico descends into chaos: Lamine Yamal sparks mass brawl as Jude Bellingham sends message to Barcelona star after Real Madrid's 2

Real Madrid's clash against Barcelona descended into chaos on Sunday night as tempers flared at full-time - and wonderkid Lamine Yamal was at the centre of things. 

Events

2 w. ago El Clasico descends into chaos: Lamine Yamal sparks mass brawl as Real Madrid stars send message to Barcelona forward after their 2

Real Madrid's clash against Barcelona descended into chaos on Sunday night as tempers flared at full-time - and wonderkid Lamine Yamal was at the centre of things. 

Events

2 w. ago Barcelona's Marcus Rashford sends Man Utd message after El Clasico moment vs Real Madrid

Marcus Rashford has been in fine form for Barcelona, and his assist against Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday should serve as a stark message to Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim

Politics

2 w. ago Watch: Vinicius Jr and Lamine Yamal kept apart as tempers boil over after Real Madrid El Clasico win

Real Madrid get the last laugh over Lamine Yamal thanks to victory in Sunday’s El Clasico

Politics

2 w. ago Bellingham scores clásico winner as Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona

The clock in Santiago Bernabéu showed 98min 40sec when Pedri picked up the ball on the edge of his area and went on the final run of an exhausting afternoon. Here perhaps was one last chance to get something, the Barcelona midfielder somehow hauling himself up the pitch; instead, as he reached the other area, a tired, loose touch, a desperate lunge to get it back, saw him take out Aurélien Tchouaméni – the world upside down – and get sent off. And so the clásico was over, bar the shouting and the pushing.There was plenty of that, players squaring then and again when the whistle at last went a few seconds later, Thibaut Courtois and Lamine Yamal, Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha, who wasn’t even playing, confronting each other. But it was Madrid who celebrated. They had gone at it for over an hour then just about controlled it. The fixture that never lets you down, the game with only one 0-0 draw in more than 50 meetings, was 105 minutes long, delivered 38 shots, three goals scored, thre...

Politics

2 w. ago Late Barcelona red card vs Real Madrid sparks melee as benches clear in Clasico

EL Clasico tensions flared after Barcelona had Pedri sent off in the closing stages of their 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday

Politics

2 w. ago Real Madrid vs Barcelona LIVE: El Clasico result, latest updates and reaction after Los Blancos win

Real Madrid beat Barcelona in first El Clasico of the season

Politics

2 w. ago Real Madrid v Barcelona live: Hosts claim crucial Clasico win thanks to Mbappe and Bellingham goals

Xabi Alonso’s side claimed a crucial three points to extend their lead at the top of La Liga

Politics