El Clásico: FC Barcelona Takes On Real Madrid

March 22nd: Ronaldo vs Messi

Barcelona versus Real Madrid—one of the most bitter rivalries in the world of football – will face off in the upcoming El Clásico. La Liga has always had a different brand of football – a different chemistry than Serie A, the EPL or the MLS and El Clásico is known as a gut-wrenching battle between giants.

Spanish football is known for its refinement and subtlety and is not like the EPL smash-down, wallop style which is more burly but not fancy football,” said Hudson. While admitting that he does not have enough time to watch American soccer in the MLS and therefore can’t comment, Hudson is a well-revered pundit of the beautiful game. Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti vs Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique – both coaches praise their top performers. Who will win? That is the question – don’t miss the action on beIN Sports.

El Clásico is the great Spanish face off between the two fierce rivals: FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Watched by hundreds of million viewers around the world, El Clásico always promises and usually delivers edge of your seat excitement.

Last year’s El Clásico’s global audience was more than 400 million viewers and this year the match up between Cristiano Ronaldo vs Messi will be as demanding as ever. Ronaldo, the world-class goal scorer for Real Madrid wants to have his team, Real Madrid, keep their coveted title in the Champions League era and Lionel Messi wants to help Barcelona take advantage of their arch-rival’s recent defeats, as his team catches up in the race for La Liga’s victor.

Why does the world, and even America, care so deeply about El Clásico? Any hotly contested fight awakens deeply rooted passions and this one draws in even the less than biblical soccer fans.

According to soccer expert and pundit Ray Hudson, the world watches El Clásico because one team is the world champions and they are having their problems currently and the other team is resurging right now and that wasn’t the case in the beginning of the season. Even if you are not familiar with which team is ahead and the other team resurging, the description of the battle is enticing.

“Everyone in El Clásico is meaningful,” said Ray Hudson, “The cushion that Real Madrid had built up has vanished. Now Real Madrid has to go into Barcelona’s Camp Nou and that could have a huge impact.” Hudson is on beIN SPORTS.

Fan-favorite and FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo was recently suspended for two games and is back in match form getting ready for El Clásico. Did Ronaldo deserve the suspension? According to Hudson, “A blind man on a galloping horse could see what Ronaldo did on the soccer field. When you hit a player like that – you deserve a suspension. Ronaldo’s team was not playing particularly well that day – he just lost it and got rightfully punished.”

This Portuguese professional might have been acting out before and been in a three-game scoring slump lately but goal drought is now over for three-time world player of the year who is back in the limelight after opening the scoring in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win at Schalke in the Champions League.

As far as derbies and rivalries go in world football, what makes El Clásico so special?  “It has always been special because of the social difference between the teams; the rivalries go back to the Spanish civil war. These deep roots never go away.”

Barcelona has that soul and spirit of Catalonia – the autonomous and separate identity within Spain – and Real Madrid was the King’s soccer club. Real King Alfonso XIII actually renamed the club Real – which means royal in Spanish – in 1920. The club was originally called the Madrid Football Club.

“These are two of the biggest, star-studded teams and it is a witches brew,” said Hudson. “It has always been that way and will never be anything else.”

Who is the better player, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi? While many experts disagree, Hudson says, “It is apple and oranges – it depends. The better goal scorer is Ronaldo – but there is an aesthetic element that kicks it towards Messi. In my eyes, I think a scope of Messi genius eclipses that of Ronaldo. There is no best in football – it cannot exist in football. Soccer is not the high-jump and cannot be measured by exact science. It is more than who has the accumulation of medals.

“I don’t look at David Beckham and think he is better than Wayne Rooney. Messi is a player who is more connected with his eyes and head and Ronaldo is more about astute finishing. Who is the best? It is about who is your favorite on the field,” said Hudson.

What were Ray Hudson’s favorite moments?

Ray Hudson’s Favorite moment as a Player: My first goal for Newcastle United on my home pitch on opening day of the season against the then champions – nothing could eclipse that as a favorite moment in your life.

Ray Hudson’s Favorite moment as a Coach: My favorite moment was putting together the Miami Fusion team – that was a Herculean achievement. This type of football had not been seen before and it was the best team in the MLS. Putting that squad together was very special – it was a lovely footballing team.

Ray Hudson’s Favorite moment as a Commentator: Covering Ronaldihno on an overhead kick – trying to describe and capture that sort of genius in an instant and do it justice was an amazing moment and the response was tremendous.

Real Madrid and Barcelona look to keep the momentum going this weekend on beIN SPORTS

WHAT:              Real Madrid, who faces Elche this weekend on beIN SPORTS, will look to sustain positive energy after the team faced a difficult loss in the Madrid Derby, which was followed by a win against Deportivo last week. Barcelona, sitting just one point under Real Madrid, will look to maintain momentum following last week’s win with a matchup against Malaga.

PLUS:                 Juventus vs. Atlanta and Roma vs. Hellas Verona headline Serie A action in week 24. Ligue 1 highlights include Paris Saint Germain vs. Toulouse. Be sure to catch these matches on beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español and beIN CONNECT.

WHEN:

RELATED ARTICLE: Barcelona and Madrid Square Off