Top 5 El Clasico fights in recent years

There are too many interesting facets about sports rivalries these days. The quest to suppress the other has been the unprecedented motto for a team or an individual. El Clasico has redefined the word ‘rivalry’. The teams involved are two largest cities in Spain with opposite political positions. F.C. Barcelona and Real Madrid C.F. are probably the most valuable clubs existing today and perhaps two of the most successful clubs. During the last three decades, the rivalry has augmented gravely. Goals, fouls, fights, dives and red cards have been a regular feature of the El Clasico. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by the referee whose decisions may well have a big say on the outcome of the league. If you say that the sports rivalries are less controversial than the controversies generated by politics and religion then you are quite mistaken. Here’s a look at some of the most riveting incidents that has taken place in El Clasico over the past few years.

#5 Arbeloa slaps Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi, who was in pursuit of the ball, was fouled by Alvaro Arbeloa and was later slapped on the face.

The incident has it’s after effects once the game got over. Messi appeared agitated throughout the match, reportedly trading insults with Arbeloa, with both players covering their mouths to hide their words from the cameras. The Spanish newspaper Marca alleges that Messi also confronted Real assistant manager Aitor Karanka in the tunnel after the game, yelling: "What are you looking at? Shut up. You're just [Jose] Mourinho's puppet."

#4 Arbeloa kicks David Villa

Alvaro Arbeloa stamped David Villa on his foot when the striker went down chasing the ball.

Sergio Ramos and Arbeloa pulled Villa off the turf after the striker was knocked down by Arbeloa. Immediately Messi got involved as he confronted both the Blancos defenders alongside Villa.

#3 Sergio Ramos shoving Puyol in the face

Ramos was shown a straight red card after bringing down Lionel Messi in the 90th minute of Madrid`s 5-0 defeat at the Nou Camp. Ramos put his hands into the faces of his Spanish team mates and Barca duo Puyol and Xavi.

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These things happen in a game of football. I've gone to defend a team-mate of mine because it seemed a very tough tackle.

'They are moments of high tension, but what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. I have a very good relationship with Sergio Ramos and it's already forgotten, I have more important things to think about.'

Puyol added: 'There are always different piques with the players from Madrid because they are our biggest rivals. But it's a pique on the field of play. We have many friends in the other camp.'

#2 Marcelo foul on Cesc Fabregas

Marcelo’s foul on Fabregas was incredulous and this exasperated the Barcelona players. It led to a mass brawl, with fighting taking place between both teams on the sidelines.

Coming into the second leg with 2-2 from the first, Barcelona were leading 3-2 with few seconds of added time left, Marcelo pounced onto Fabregas’ legs which triggered the whole incident.

Jose Mourinho too got involved on the sidelines as he poked the late Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova in the eye.

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"The images speak for themselves," Pep Guardiola said afterwards. The Barcelona coach added that he feared "where this will end".

The Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué accused Mourinho of destroying Spanish football. "It is not the players' fault," Piqué said. "I have played against them before and this did not happen. We even beat them 6-2 at their stadium and this didn't happen. I have lived alongside them [in the national team] and they are brilliant people. I don't think they're the guilty parties. People accuse us, the Catalans, of being the guilty party but the guilty [man] is in Madrid.

"He is ruining Spanish football. They have to look at the video, analyse it and decide who is responsible. It's not the first time this has happened, it has happened many times, and something has to be done. It is always the same people. Measures are needed. Things can't always end up the same way."

“It was a bad tackle – I was lucky [not to get hurt]," Fábregas said. "But I didn't see anything after that."

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo shoving Pep Guardiola

The incident took place when Real Madrid were trailing 2-0 after 30 minutes of play. Pep Guardiola picked the ball, Ronaldo reached out for it and Pep held it out of his reach and then threw it aside.

The game saw 12 yellows and one straight red card as Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho, were routed 5-0.

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'These are just things that happen on the pitch during a game,' Pep said during the post match interview when asked about the incident.

“I was caught close to the action and although it was unpleasant, these things happen. In these games there is much tension." - Andres Iniesta.

After several minutes of pushing and shoving, matters finally simmered down. The result was that both Ronaldo and Valdes collected bookings, while Guardiola, perhaps surprisingly for his part in the whole flare-up, got off with a reprimand.