As FC Barcelona stands on the cusp of securing the La Liga title, legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has stirred the pot, weighing in on the contentious “pasillo” tradition ahead of the upcoming El Clásico.
As reported by Marca, the 44-year-old, a veteran of countless high-stakes encounters between the two Spanish giants, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to comment on an article from the newspaper ‘El Mundo Deportivo’. The article, titled ‘Tres pasillos entre Barça y Madrid, dos culés y uno merengue’, delved into the history of guards of honor exchanged between the fierce rivals.
A “pasillo” is a long-standing football tradition where one team forms a guard of honor to applaud a rival that has already clinched a title. It’s a gesture of sportsmanship, but one often fraught with tension, particularly in the heated atmosphere of El Clásico.
Casillas’s provocative take
Casillas’s comment, shared with his significant social media following, offered a characteristically direct perspective. Referencing the ‘El Mundo Deportivo’ piece, the former Real Madrid captain stated, “We are still better, even in this (even if it’s negative).” His remark subtly implies a perceived superiority for Real Madrid even in the context of a tradition that could see them applauding their rivals.
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‘El Mundo Deportivo’ highlighted the rarity of such gestures between the two clubs. According to the publication, “in recent decades, with a title won on previous eves, there have been three ‘pasillos’ between Barça and Real Madrid, two by the *azulgrana* for the *blancos* and one by the *blancos* for the *azulgrana*.” This historical context underscores the significance, and often the reluctance, associated with the tradition in this particular rivalry.
La Liga title race heats up
The timing of Casillas’s comments is particularly pertinent. Barcelona holds an 11-point advantage over Real Madrid in the La Liga standings with only 12 points left to play for. Real Madrid‘s recent 0-2 victory against R.C.D. Espanyol, while keeping their slim hopes alive, merely postponed Barcelona‘s potential title celebration by at least one matchday.
The stage is now set for a potentially decisive El Clásico on May 10th at Spotify Camp Nou. Should Barcelona secure a win or even a draw against Real Madrid in that fixture, they would mathematically clinch the La Liga title. This scenario would inevitably bring the “pasillo” debate to the forefront, adding another layer of intrigue to one of football’s most iconic clashes.
Sources: www.marca.com
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