Spain is the current World Champion and the country that has one of the most powerful Leagues in the World. This country's Football League, also known as "La Liga", gets this status thanks to two powerful teams, FC Barcelona (The "Blau-Granas", The "Catalanes") and Real Madrid CF (The "Blancos", The "Merengues"). Both teams have a big rivalry, and every game they play is called “El Clásico” (The Classic)
Both archrivals have the most amount of victories in Spain. Real Madrid owns 31 Spanish Leagues, 17 King Cups, and 9 UEFA Champions League. FC Barcelona is the owner of 20 Spanish Leagues, 25 King Cups, and 3 UEFA Champions League. As you can see, a great history of victories that have made their fans very proud.
But, I'm not here to make a comparison between these two powerful teams. I'm here to talk about the emotions that these two teams gave to the world of soccer on June 7th, 1992. When the last journey of 1991/1992 Spanish League was played, and the Champion was known in the last moments of the 38th round, the last one. The episode I'm about to tell you, is one of the many that increased the rivalry between these two powerful sides.
After 37 rounds of the league, Real Madrid CF was the leader with 54 pts. +47 GA. FC Barcelona was the second with 53 pts. +48 GA. In that time, the punctuation system was different, for a victory a team used to get 2 points and for tying 1 point. Real Madrid was schedule to visit CD Tenerife at the city of Tenerife in the Canarias Islands. The local team didn't have any chance to be champions; they were just playing to complete their schedule. A victory for the "Blancos" would give them the League Championship. On the other side, FC Barcelona was meeting Athletic Bilbao in Barcelona. They really needed to win and wait that Real Madrid CF losses its game, which was considered almost a miracle to happen.
Real Madrid was the leader of the league for the last 30 journeys. CD Tenerife was a small opponent that didn't have any chance to beat the "Merengues". That's what everybody thought. The Real Madrid CF directors and CEOs, lead by the President Ramon Mendoza, organized a "Victory Tour" with many boxes of champagne and wine. They were pretty sure that the "Blancos" would get the Spanish League back after one year of missing it. But they didn't count that CD Tenerife would be willing to sell its defeat for a very high price. The Dutch Leo Benhacker, the coach, sent to the field players like Paco Buyo, great Spaniard goalie, Fernando Hierro, one of the best defenders ever from Spain, George Haghi, the Rumanian midfielder also known as "The Maradona of the Carpathians", Miguel Gonzalez "Michel", Spaniard midfielder, Ricardo Rocha, great Brazilian defender, and the famous Emilio Butragueño, historic Spaniard forward. CD Tenerife didn't have great names, but they were managed by the Argentinean Jorge Valdano, former Real Madrid CF player, who later, in 1995, would become Real Madrid CF coach.
In Barcelona, the "Blau-Granas" were receiving the visit of Athletic Bilbao. Players like Andoni Zubizarreta (Goalie), Ronald Koeman, the Dutch great defender, Jose Mari Bakero, good Spaniard midfielder, the Bulgarian Hristo Stoichkov - an idol for "The Catalanes", Guillermo Amor, and Michael Laudrup (Denmark) were ready to play and fight for the miracle of retaining the Spanish League. About Athetic Bilbao, there is not much to say, let's move to how the games went.
Both games started at the same time. At the 8th minute, Goal in Tenerife! Fernando Hierro scored for Real Madrid CF, 1-0! Then, at 28th minute, George Haghi scored for Real Madrid CF and now they were leading 2-0 over CD Tenerife. However, 8 minutes later, at 36th, Hristov Stoichkov scored at the Camp Nou Stadium, a goal for FC Barcelona, 1-0!! Also, at the same time, CD Tenerife scored its first goal!! Estebaranz put the score in 2-1. It looked like neither CD Tenerife nor FC Barcelona were letting things easy for Real Madrid CF. The first 45 minutes in both games ended with partial victories of Real Madrid CF (2-1) and FC Barcelona (1-0). The title of Champion was more than secure for Real Madrid. The "Blancos" were now leading the league with 56 pts. +48 GA, and FC Barcelona was second with 55 pts. +49 GA.
In the second half, we would have moments not suitable for those with a weak heart. 49th minute Goal in Barcelona!! Hristo Stoichkov, one more time, was scoring for "The Catalanes" and now they were leading its game 2-0. FC Barcelona had now 55 pts. +50 GA. In Tenerife, things were still normal for Real Madrid CF, but suddenly they got too relaxed. That's why at the 77th minute, Goal in Tenerife! An own goal by the experienced Brazilian defender Ricardo Rocha gave the tied to CD Tenerife, 2-2! Now we had, Real Madrid: 55 +47; FC Barcelona 55 +49!! This was a psychological goal that Ream Madrid CF never recovered. In Tenerife, the Madrid fans were getting nervous, while in Barcelona, the fans were getting very excited. But the worst for Real Madrid came at the 78th minute. In a very fast play, Pier scored for CD Tenerife and they came back for a lead of 3-2!. Now we had FC Barcelona: 55 pts. +49, and Real Madrid: 54 pts. +47. FC Barcelona was leading the Spanish League since the 77th minute of the last game in the last round! While Real Madrid CF was relegated to second place, after being leaders for the last 30 rounds! On my Goodness! This is what was really happening!!! Amazing how things were changing for a bunch of mistakes that the "Merengues" did in the Football field.
At the end of both games, Real Madrid CF lost 3-2 in Tenerife, while FC Barcelona beat 2-0 Athletic Bilbao in Barcelona “La Ciudad Condal”. The Real Madrid CF directors and CEOs didn't accept the defeat easily. They were talking about supposed incentives to CD Tenerife players from FC Barcelona directors, and suspicious actions from the referees. For example, a legitimate goal from Luis Milla, Real Madrid CF player, wasn't called as valid; three penalties for the "Blancos" were denied, some strange businesses under the table, and so on. However, nothing was ever proved.
The great "Blau-granas" "The Catalanes" had won the Spanish League in an unforgettable and memorable end. It was the beginning of a memorable era of victories for FC Barcelona and its "Dream Team". In Tenerife, the CD Tenerife fans were really happy because their team played with lots of dignity. They never felt too proud of themselves, and I'm very sure that the boxes of champagne and wine that Real Madrid CF directors brought, were drank it till the last drop by them. Real Madrid CF players and directors came back to Madrid with nothing, for sure, with a sepulchral silence and disappointment, while in Barcelona, everything was party, lots of happiness and lots of pride. I just wonder who were happier for the disgraceful faith of Real Madrid CF? The CD Tenerife fans? or the FC Barcelona fans? Who do you think?
Anyway, for great memorable moments like this, I can tell you and and I'll always tell you, my fellow Soccer fans, excuse me!! Football fans: FOOTBALL THERE IS NOBODY LIKE YOU!!!
Christian Basantes
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