Politically divided Spain united by El Clasico rivalry

Real Madrid host Barcelona on Saturday in a match more laced with political tension than normal in the aftermath of local elections in Catalonia on Thursday called by the Spanish government to try and dissuade a drive for independence in the region.

"They have a very strong ideological connection," political scientist Pablo Simon told AFP. "On the one side are Real Madrid, who normally can be said to have a more conservative and nationalist fan base." By contrast, Simon cites Barca's "more than a club" motto as being rooted in a sense of Catalan identity. The sights and sounds of their Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu stadiums reflect that difference. In Barcelona, Catalan flags, including the independence-supporting Estelada, are commonly flown, while the crowd at Europe's biggest stadium chant in favor of independence in the 17th minute of each match to mark the fall of Catalonia in the Spanish War of Succession in 1714. At Bernabeu, Spanish flags are splattered across the stadium, while cries of "Viva Espana" rang on Oct. 1 in the hours following a violent crackdown by Spanish police forces on a referendum concerning independence called by separatists in Catalonia. However, for all their differences, El Clasico and particularly the fear of losing the matchup should Catalonia gain independence, unites both sets of fans.

"It is the derby of Spain and it feels like it is impossible to be neutral," Sid Lowe, a Spanish football journalist and author of the book "Fear and Loathing in La Liga" on the rivalry, told AFP. "It is a unifying event. No-one wants to lose this game, even in the event of Catalan independence."

La Liga president Javier Tebas has repeatedly warned Barca would not be allowed to continue playing in the Spanish league if the drive for independence is followed through. However, that is a scenario both clubs refuse to envisage with many believing threats from Tebas, who attended a nationalist march earlier in the year, are aligned to his own political beliefs.

"I want to tell all members that the intention of the club is to continue playing in La Liga. Right now our participation is guaranteed," Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu told the club's AGM in October.

"I can't contemplate a Spain without Catalonia, nor La Liga without Barca," Real Madrid president Florentino Perez told Spanish newspaper El Espanol. Bartomeu's board has tried to tread a fine line by defending Catalonia's institutions following the Spanish government's application of home rule, but also not coming out in favor of independence. Barca played Las Palmas behind closed doors on Oct. 1 in protest at the violence at the polling stations.

However, even outspoken pro-independence campaigners like former Barca president Joan Laporta have called for Barca to remain in La Liga.

"No one at Barcelona wants to lose this game even though that potentially contradicts their political or social position," added Lowe.

The most-watched football match in the world will attract a potential TV audience of 650 million people who will tune in to see five-time Ballon d'Or winners Cristiano Ronaldo of Real and Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Yet, the fact that what could happen to Barca, and by extension El Clasico has played such a big role in the independence debate is a sign of the match's deeply rooted importance to Spanish society as something more than just a sporting event.