A Classic Rivalry Rekindled
The world is primed for the Clasico as Barcelona travel to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, the tenth round of La Liga.
This match is watched around the globe because of the long, storied rivalry and the fierce competition between the two giants.
As the big date nears, Kooora revisits a moment etched in Clasico history: the Bulgarian forward Hristo Stoichkov, then at Barcelona, was involved in a controversial incident with the match official during the Clasico against Real Madrid.
The Stoichkov Moment and Its Aftermath
On December 5, 1990, the Spanish Super Cup clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou saw the Bulgarian star, who had joined the Catalan club about six months earlier, starring in a game during which his challenge toward the referee became a defining moment.
Barca's reactions, the coach’s influence, and the subsequent suspension followed: Stoichkov was banned for 12 matches after the incident. The referee’s account described a confrontation near the Barca bench, Johan Cruyff’s animated protest from the touchline, and a sequence that ended with a red card for Stoichkov.
Stoichkov later explained his feelings toward Real Madrid: he would always hate them; there is something about them that irritates him, and his outspoken stance has helped him remain beloved by many Barca supporters.
Ahead of the Clasico, Barca had played nine league games with seven wins, one draw, and one loss, while Real Madrid had eight wins and one loss, a heavy 2-5 setback to Atletico. Barca sat on 22 points in second place, two points behind Madrid, who led the standings after a win over Getafe, setting a heated stage for one of football’s fiercest clashes.
