There are few sporting contests that carry quite the same passion as a Real Madrid-Barcelona match. The majority of Spain, much of Europe and many around the world was glued to TV sets to watch the twice-yearly battle between the side from the Spanish capital and that from the grand old city of Catalonia.

And few, least of all the lucky 80,000 packed inside the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, viewed the game without tying their colours one way or the other. The Merengues (All Whites) versus the Blaugrana (Claret and Blues) is not a derby in the local definition but it carries all the history and tribal characteristics to mark it down as one of the world's greatest sporting rivalries. To some el clasico, as it is sometimes known, transcends a national league match.