Close Article Return to stream X
Soccer

Real Madrid, Barcelona Turning Up The Heat In Ongoing Rivalry

+Read full article
Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona

Getty Images

It took Real Madrid all of a few days before they responded with a salvo of their own. Just hours after arch-rivals FC Barcelona pulled off a shocking move for troubled striker Luis Suarez, Los Blancos turned up the heat in soccer‘s most glamorous and ongoing arms race.

So far, Real Madrid have targeted World Cup standouts Keylor Navas and Toni Kroos for possible relocations from Levante and Bayern Munich, respectively, to the Spanish capital for 2014-15. It is the possible signing of James Rodriguez that has the international press most abuzz, however.

Rodriguez, who took home the Golden Boot as the World Cup’s top scorer for an impressive Colombia, is tenuously under contract with AS Monaco in France. Don’t expect that to deter the reigning European Champions, especially since Rodriguez has hardly been quiet about his desire for a move to Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for this season.

So it goes in the neverending chess match between the world’s two most valuable sports franchises. Barcelona make a move, Real counter. Real make a move and Barca respond. It’s been the way of a rivalry that dates from 1902.

In the United States, baseball fans have watched the consistent arms race between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox for generations. One team always seems intent on one-upping the other, adding to arguably the most scrutinized rivalry in American sports.

Like the Yankees and Red Sox, Real Madrid and Barcelona operate under the same strategic approach: Watch the other guy and then respond in kind.

To date, Barcelona have gained a skilled midfielder in Ivan Rakitic, a pair of strong goaltenders in Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen and noted-biter Suarez, making the Blaugrana again a favorite in both Spain and Europe. Simply put, Real Madrid had to do something. And the response has been immediate.

First, they began a campaign to lure Kroos, who is coming off a World Cup Championship with Germany. With that deal all but done, Los Blancos then turned to Navas, the record-breaking goaltender who helped carry Costa Rica to their first ever World Cup Quarterfinal appearance. With Rodriguez primed for the move, Real also appear ready to challenge in Spain and Europe.

In other words, the ball is again back in Barcelona’s court. Will they now stand with the squad they currently have or make another move? You can bet Real Madrid will be waiting to find out.

If rivalries are indeed the lifeblood of sports, there are few that embody it more than Real Madrid and Barcelona. Always keen on the opposition, both sides constantly watch the other, waiting for an opening to assert their perceived dominance.

Therein lies a point of the many interests for followers of El Clasico, a rivalry unmatched in the world of club soccer. More than 110 years of contests have added up to the biggest arms race in the world’s biggest sport.

Matt Johnson is a Big Ten Conference basketball writer for www.rantsports.com.  Follow him on Twitter at mattytheole or “like” him on Facebook.

Your Favorites
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
Soccer Videos

Fan Films Errant Ronaldo Penalty Kick Hitting Him In Head

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty kick during Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Sevilla recently. A fan sitting directly behind the goal captured the errant shot on video, and the ball subsequently nailed him in the head once it made its way to the stands.

Comment 0 Comments
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
Soccer Videos

Jamie Vardy Scores First International Goal With Amazing Backheel

England's Jamie Vardy scored his first international goal on Saturday in a friendly against Germany, and it was a doozy. Vardy put a backheel effort into the back of the net off a cross, and it's still difficult for me to understand exactly how he pulled it off.

Comment 0 Comments
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
Soccer Videos

Watch Hlompho Kekana Score From Beyond Midfield

South Africa's Hlompho Kekana may have seen that Cameroon's goalie was out of position, but his shot from past midfield was nothing more than a prayer until it found the back of the net.

Comment 0 Comments
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
Soccer Videos

Watch Kick From Lionel Messi Break Woman's Wrist

This lady was just trying to enjoy watching a live match with one of the top-two soccer players in the world when her whole day changed. The fact that a soccer ball actually broke this woman's wrist is amazing and shows just how hard it is for goalies to stop one of Lionel Messi's lasers.

Comment 0 Comments
 
 
Close Article Return to stream X
Soccer Videos

Cristiano Ronaldo Wears First Self-Lacing Shoes

True sneakerheads have always measured whether or not we were finally living in the future not by the introduction of jetpacks or flying cars into society but by the arrival of self-lacing shoes. Today Nike has informed us all we’ve made it to the Promised Land with their announcement of the self-lacing HyperAdapt 1. As one of Nike's main men Cristiano Ronaldo was given the honor of being the first athlete to wear their new futuristic shoes.

Comment 0 Comments