'You could smell it on the pitch' - Barcelona the only club Real Madrid 'respect' as ex-defender opens up on Clasico wins against fierce rivals

Martinez claimed that Madrid only ever respected Barcelona when the two giants faced off in El Clasico last season, recalling how he could “see it in their faces” even before kick-off. The defender, who left Barca for Al-Nassr last month, insisted that belief and intensity gave his side the upper hand in Spain’s biggest fixture.

The ex-Athletic Bilbao defender, who joined Barcelona in 2023 and lifted a domestic treble under Hansi Flick last season, highlighted how belief shaped the club’s edge over Madrid. His point was backed up by results, the Catalan giants thrashed Los Blancos 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, pulled off a 4-3 comeback at home, and stormed to a 5-2 Supercopa final win after scoring four times in the first half. Barcelona required extra time to edge a 3-2 win in the Copa del Rey final, capping off a season of psychological strength and footballing supremacy.

Speaking in an interview on Jijantes, Martinez said: "The only one Real Madrid respected was us. You could smell it on the pitch, you could sense it. It was only two laps later that we saw their faces, like they couldn't. That was our feeling, and that's why we won."

The 34-year-old has since moved to Al-Nassr following a standout season with Barcelona. He's now embraced a new chapter in Saudi Arabia, but his insights on Clasico mentality remain a striking reminder of how deeply respect and presence define the biggest fixtures in world football.