Barcelona vs. Real Madrid: Recalling 6 Classic El Clasicos

After a couple of shocking defeats in Europe, Saturday's El Clasico promises to live up to its name.

Actually, a classic El Clasico was already in the cards before both Barcelona and Real Madrid lost in the Champions League semifinals this week.

Real Madrid lead Barca by four points atop the La Liga table. A win Saturday would all but clinch the league title with only four more matches to play.

A Barcelona win, on the other hand, would cut their deficit to one point and set up a tense finale.

Both teams' European misadventures will surely add spice to the classic rivalry. Real Madrid fell 2-1 at Bayern Munich; Barca lost 1-0 at Chelsea.

That means both are hurting, but it also means both are hungry to make up for it.

While we wait for what should be a great El Clasico, here are six classics from the famed rivalry's history.

2001-02 Champions League Semifinal

All season, football fans have wondered about the possibility of an El Clasico Champions League final.

If history is any guide, such a matchup could be explosive. Back in 2002, the Spanish giants met in the 2002 semifinals, and it was a memorable affair.

Dubbed the "Duel of the Century," Real won the first leg 2-0 at the Camp Nou behind goals from Zinedine Zidane and Steve McManaman. Xavi and Rivaldo were both unavailable for Barca.

A week later, the second leg was marred by a car bomb set off by Basque separatists (via The New York Times). The Bernabeu's trophy room was damaged and 17 people sustained injuries.

The second leg ended in a 1-1 draw, with Real advancing to the final. There, Zidane did this.

Real Madrid 0-5 Barcelona, 1974

In his first season with Barcelona, Johan Cruyff added to his growing legend with a scintillating performance against Real at the Bernabeu.

The Dutch legend provided three assists and scored an amazing solo effort of his own (around the 3:37 mark), but that doesn't do him justice at all.

Watch the video and admire the greatness.

Real Madrid 5-0 Barcelona, 1995

Almost exactly a year after losing 5-0 to Barcelona at the Camp Nou, Real returned the favor at the Bernabeu.

Barcelona were the defending champions, but an Ivan Zamorano-inspired Real obliterated Barca on their way to the title.

Zamorano hit a hat trick in the first half, while Luis Enrique and Jose Amavisca completed the rout in the second. Barca's Hristo Stoichkov even earned a red card for stamping on Quique Flores.

For Real, it was a near-perfect night.

Real Madrid 2-6 Barcelona, 2009

Real Madrid had won 17 of 18 heading into the match, closing a 12-point midseason gap to four by May.

Then Barcelona visited.

Real did take an early 1-0 lead through Gonzalo Higuain, but Barca led 3-1 at the break behind goals from Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol and Lionel Messi.

Henry and Messi both scored again after the break and Gerard Pique completed the rout with Barcelona's sixth.

Barcelona won the title that season.

Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona, 2008: El Pasillo

"El Pasillo."

Spanish tradition declares that as soon as a team wins the title, their next opponent must line up on the pitch and honor the champions-elect before kickoff. The custom is known as the "pasillo."

Guess who had to honor Real Madrid with the "pasillo" in 2008?

And to make matters worse for Barcelona, Real Madrid won a laugher, 4-1.

Other instances of the "pasillo" involving both Real and Barca are 1988 (when Real won the title) and 1991 (Barcelona).

Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid, 2010

Perhaps the best example of Barcelona's stylish football under manager Pep Guardiola, this 5-0 win over Real in November 2010 was simply breathtaking.

Real entered the match flying high with new manager Jose Mourinho, who had led Inter Milan to the Champions League title the previous season (beating Barca along the way).

But Barca led 2-0 at halftime through Xavi and Pedro. David Villa then scored twice in quick succession early in the second half, and Jeffren completed the scoring late.

The final score in no way flattered Barca.