The memory of the first match between Barcelona and Real Madrid in 1902

May 13, 1902. This is the date on which the Madrid held the first clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona - a conflict which 114 years later is known as "El Classico" and is considered one of the greatest derbies in world football.

In 1902, however, no one may imply that happens something historic.
2 ½ years earlier-formed team of Barcelona for the first time appeared in Madrid, and the occasion was the semi-finals of the Copa coronacion organized on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the coronation of Alfonso XIII. This is the first football tournament involving teams from different parts of Spain.
And although the game went down in history as the first edition of the Clasico, Barca then watch the match only as a warm-up match before the only matter to them - the inevitable final against the team from Bilbao. At that time, the Basques are determined by the press as the best team in Spain and boys from Barcelona are determined to move slightly in Madrid and to compete with Bilbao.
Barcelona already has two years of experience in competitive football by participating in the Copa Macau, and their team, including two Swiss (Hans Hamper and George Meyer), German (Udo Steinberg) and three Englishmen (Arthur Uiti, John Parsons and Henry Morris) is expected be much stronger than the newly formed FC Madrid (the name 'Real' is added after 1920) who have played only a few controls with FC New, the only other team from the capital.
Because of the difficulties of the journey but Barcelona did not use all their best players and bet on several inexperienced youngsters in his starting XI.
hazardous conditions
Arena of the first Clasico is Racecourse in La Castellana, one of the most majestic streets where today is the stadium "Santiago Bernabeu". In all criteria conditions for football are not good. For the game to be seen on both sides of the field normally used for racing horses, the playing field is ridiculously large and terrain using horse manure, which in those days creates a huge risk of tetanus. Some describe the course as a death trap!
The match starts at 11:00 and Madrid brings traditional and now completely white team, while Barcelona is with its red and then blue shirts and white shorts.
The thought of losing the game hardly crossed the mind of the players of Barcelona, ​​but still the game Barca realize that actually opponent is much better than they expected.
Subsequently, the media share a strong impression from the only foreigner in the team from Madrid - Arthur Johnson, an Englishman who later became the first manager of the club. It was he who opened the score realizing the first goal in the history of El Clasico.
Tension from the start
From the beginning there are indications of the years of rivalry between these two teams. The audience logically support their own team and quite reserved to the behavior of guests. Catalan weekly "Los Deportes" says that "players, whether English, German, Swiss or barselonisti, complain about the lack of attention among viewers who applaud when players of Barcelona fall when their own team scoring and silent when Barcelona played well and scored a goal. "
Despite the hostile atmosphere, favorites eventually turn result. Steinberg scored twice, which led Barca and final 3: 1 Henry Morris formed a penalty.
So Barcelona qualified for the final, although have to wait before being considered the best team in Spain. The combined team of Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona defeated in the final, thus winning the trophy, which is considered the first edition of this Cup of the King.