Soccer (Futbol)

Spain's Major Soccer Teams

If you can get to see a game including any of these teams, you're in for an exceptional night of soccer.
Barcelona League champions these last two seasons (04/05 & 05/06) they also added the European championship to their trophy cabinet in 2006. Playing in the heart of Barcelona in Europe's largest football stadium, the 120,000 capacity Nou Camp, they feature soccer stars such as the Brazilian Ronaldinho & Spain's sometimes captain Puyol among their roster.

The following bolded words are the main teams and the history behind their success:

• Barcelona League champions these last two seasons (04/05 & 05/06) they also added the European championship to their trophy cabinet in 2006. Playing in the heart of Barcelona in Europe's largest football stadium, the 120,000 capacity Nou Camp, they feature soccer stars such as the Brazilian Ronaldinho & Spain's sometimes captain Puyol among their roster.

• Real Madrid FIFA, soccer's world governing body, recently named Real Madrid as the most successful soccer club of the 20th century, having won more European championships than any other team from the continent (nine). Real Madrid are both loved and hated for the "galactico" (stars) system by which they buy the best (or most lucrative) players in the world each year.

• Madrid and Barcelona are the protagonists in Spanish soccer's most famous rivalry, known as 'el Clasico'. On one side there is Real ('royal') Madrid, associated with the regime of the dictator Generalissimo Franco and the conservatism of modern centralist Spain. On the other side is Futbol Club Barcelona, symbol of an oppressed Catalan nationhood.This political subplot has given an added edge to the competition between Spain's two most garlanded football clubs. Such tumultuous contests have resulted out of this heartfelt rivalry between the two teams that the tie has established itself as the classic game in Europe, nicknamed 'El Clasico.

• Barça Players in El Clasico
• Barcelona players to have graced derbies of yesterday include 'Lobsterman' Pepe Samitier, who terrorized Madrid's defence in the 1920s, Ladislao Kubala, the Hungarian target-man of the 50's who was particularly fond of Barcelona 's bars and Johan Cruyff, the Dutchman who brought 'Total football' and an inferno of cigarette smoke (he smoked 40 a day) to the Nou Camp in the 1970s.
• Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov and Romario formed the so-called 'Dream Team' of the 1990s which was involved in some memorable tussles. More recently, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi have all inflicted irreperable damage to Madrid's title hopes in derby games.

• Real Madrid Players in El Clasico
• An Argentine called Alfredo Di Stefano inspired five title triumphs in five years during the '50s and '60s. He was a great scourge of Barcelona, partly because they were deflected in their attempts to buy him.
• Ferenc Puskas, 'the magical Magyar', gave defences of the '60s a torrid time. Emilio Butragueno was known as 'the vulture.' He terrorised Barça in the '80s, as did the acrobatic Hugo Sanchez, in the late '80s - early '90s. In the past couple of decades Raùl, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo formed a fearsome trio to take on Barça.

• Politics in El Clasico
• From 1936 to 1975 there was of course, Franco, who as well as subjugating the Catalan region and outlawing the Catalan language, developed a deep suspicion for the Barcelona club, which was viewed as the epitome of anti-Spanish sentiment.
• During Franco's reign Barça's followers developed a sense that referees and league officials were against the club, which partly continues until today. What were viewed as farcical decisions and exaggerated bans and fines against Barca were common. Real Madrid's players meanwhile had to unfairly carry the burden of being political representatives of the regime which favoured it.
• Political and cultural differences caused mayhem at matches. Barcelona fans became so incensed by the referee's performance at one game in 1970 they threw 25,000 seats onto the field. In another a Fascist soldier attempted to arrest the Barcelona groundsman on for being a suspected communist. And more recently a pig's head was tossed onto the field at the feet of Real Madrid player Luis Figo, who had betrayed Barca to sign for Real. Figo politely declined, having already eaten his dinner.

• Luis Figo And El Clasico
• If one player were to encapsulate the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barça than it would be Luis Figo. Figo spent five successful years at Barça in the late nineties, winning several league titles. He was the idol of the Nou Camp. Then in 2000 he decided to sign for Real Madrid.
• Overnight he became the most despised man in Barcelona and a Madrid icon.
• Though he went on to win several league titles with Madrid he also received perhaps the most hostile reception of any player in La Liga history when he returned to play in Barcelona. Among the indignities endured by the winger were the pig's head incident and sea of banknotes in his name, meant to symbolize his greed as a pesetero - a moneygrabbing turncoat.

• Athletic de Bilbao - The purists of Spanish soccer. Many Spaniards have a soft spot for this club due to its policy of only ever including Spanish players on its roster. In the 60's & 70's a real force in Spanish soccer but the last few seasons have seen the club battling to keep up with other clubs employing stars from around the world.

• Sevilla The south of Spain is famed for its passion and latino love for life. This extends to the football club of Andalusia's capital which although not as successful as the big two (Real Madrid & Barcelona) still sees a 55,000 people party and partisan atmosphere for every game. The 2006 UEFA cup winners (Europe's second most important competition), Sevilla, are challenging the big two in 2007.

They say that soccer (futbol to the Spanish) is like a religion in Spain. It would be perhaps more accurate to say that religion is like soccer in Spain, such is the devotion expressed by the Spanish to their beloved sport. While once upon a time the essential Sunday activity was going to church in the morning, now it is watching the Sunday night fixtures.

Spain has a great history of soccer, arguably only beaten by England and Italy in terms of footballing heritage. Real Madrid are the most successful soccer team in Europe, though their statistics are bumped up by being sponsored by General Franco during the 1950s.

Soccer in Spain is inexpensive with tickets available at times for less than 20€ from the clubs themselves. Realistically you should be looking to pay about 35€ to see a game unless you purchase tickets from a tout in the street. Of course for the bigger games, buying from a tout may be the only option!

Getting to Know Spanish Soccer (Futbol)Spanish football is played in four professional leagues with promotion and relegation taking place at the end of each season. The season itself running between mid September and mid May. During this time each Saturday and Sunday sees over 100 professional games taking place across the country.

Sitting atop the pyramid of leagues is the 20 teams in Liga A (known simply as "La Liga" in other European countries). Each team will play each other once at home and once away within a season.

Weekly ScheduleYou'll find Spanish soccer teams in action up to four times a week during the soccer season, which runs from late August until May.

Saturday One La Liga game per week (the most important one available on free-to-air TV) is played on a Saturday.

Sunday The rest of the domestic games are played on a Sunday.

Tuesday 50% of all Champions League games (Europe's biggest cup competition) are played on a Tuesday. If a Spanish team is involved, it will be advertised in bars.

Wednesday The other half of Champions League games.

Thursday UEFA cup games. The UEFA cup is the secondary European cup, after the Champions League. Again, if Spanish teams are involved, it will be advertised.