Five Clasicos at Camp Nou That Barcelona Will Never Forget

Some stadiums rack up matches, and some stadiums rack up stories. Camp Nou belongs to the second category, especially when Real Madrid is the visitor. All kinds of things have happened there: routs that get passed down from generation to generation, legendary hat tricks, and duels between superstars that went back and forth until the final whistle. Here's a look back at five Clasico nights in the Catalan stronghold that still spark conversation today.

Romario and the "cola de vaca" that embarrassed Alkorta (1994)

On January 8, 1994, Johan Cruyff's Barcelona delivered a resounding 5-0 thrashing of Real Madrid. The night belonged to Romario, who scored a hat trick and left behind a piece of skill that's still taught as a textbook example of flair: he received the ball from Pep Guardiola, shook off Alkorta with the move that became known as the "cola de vaca," and finished past Paco Buyo to make it 1-0 in the 24th minute. Ronald Koeman doubled the lead with a free kick in the 47th, the Brazilian struck again in the 57th and 81st minutes, and Ivan Iglesias put the finishing touch in the 86th. It was an afternoon forever stitched into the glory of the Dream Team.

Messi's first big statement (2007)

Thirteen years later, another genius was starting to write his own Clasico story. At just 19 years old, Lionel Messi scored all three Barcelona goals in a thrilling 3-3 draw on March 10, 2007. Ruud van Nistelrooy had put Real Madrid ahead twice, and Barca were down to ten men after Oleguer was sent off before halftime. Sergio Ramos restored Madrid's lead in the second half, but Messi showed up once again near the end to complete the equalizer and finish off a hat trick that hinted at what was still to come.

Guardiola's masterpiece against Mourinho (2010)

If there's one match that sums up total superiority of one team over another, this is it. On November 29, 2010, Guardiola's Barcelona demolished Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid 5-0 through sheer possession, pressing, and patience. Xavi Hernandez opened the scoring in the 10th minute off an assist from Andres Iniesta, Pedro made it two in the 18th, David Villa scored twice in the second half (55' and 57'), and Jeffren closed out the rout in the 90th plus one. That Barcelona side would go on to win the league title that season, and the contrast in styles between Guardiola and Mourinho turned the scoreline into one of the defining moments of the rivalry.

Messi versus Cristiano, face to face (2012)

On October 7, 2012, it was a heavyweight duel with no winner. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, Messi equalized in the 30th, the Argentine put Barcelona back in front in the 61st, and Cristiano answered in the 66th to make it a final 2-2. Two goals apiece, in a match that never dropped in intensity and captured, as few games have, the era when Messi and Cristiano battled match after match for control of Spanish soccer.

Suarez plays hero without Messi (2018)

On October 28, 2018, with Messi sidelined by injury, it was up to Luis Suarez to carry the attack. And carry it he did, scoring three goals in a 5-1 rout that deepened the crisis for a Real Madrid side then coached by Julen Lopetegui. Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring in the 11th minute, Suarez added a penalty in the 30th, Marcelo pulled one back early in the second half, but the Uruguayan answered with two more goals (75' and 83') before Arturo Vidal headed in the finishing touch in the 87th.

Five matches, five different ways to win a Clasico at Camp Nou: Romario's solo brilliance, the emergence of a teenager named Messi, the collective perfection of Guardiola's team, the endless back and forth between two of the greatest players in history, and the clinical instincts of a killer like Suarez right when he was needed most. In the end, the final score is almost beside the point. What lingers is the image.