#4 The 11-1 beating of Barcelona
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This game is among the most deplorable occurrences in all of world football history. The incredibly lopsided scoreline in favour of Real conceals the chilling story of why it came to be so in the first place. To find out, we need to know the historical background of the game.
General Francisco Franco took control of Spain in 1939 after a bloody civil war which left hundreds of thousands of Spanish citizens dead. His rule over the Iberian peninsula lasted 36 years until his death, and his influence touched all spheres of life in the country. Including football.
Franco adopted Real Madrid as the club representing the establishment: the government and he used his power to make life easier for the Real Madrid club hierarchy to project himself as their primary benefactor.
Thus, Real Madrid became a symbol of the establishment, while Barcelona projected itself as champions of the Catalunyan independence struggle. Sparks were bound to fly between the two rivals, and they duly did so after Real lost to Barca 3-0 in the first leg of the Copa del Generalissimo in June 1943.
According to various verbal sources, the Director of State Security paid a visit to the Barcelona players in the away dressing room – minutes before the second leg kicked off on 19th June. His visit left the Barca players fearing for their lives and with a destroyed mindset for the game.
They paid the ultimate price on the pitch, willingly incurring the 11-1 loss so as to save the lives of their family members and loved ones. Real went on to win the trophy, but this fixture is forever remembered as the worst Clasico encounter ever to take place.
