El Clasico flashback: 2002 Champions League semifinal

The year was 2002. Tensions were heightening between the United States and Iraq, while corporate scandal at Enron shook the nation. Nickelback topped the charts with “How You Remind Me”, also shaking the nation. Meanwhile, the world was still blissfully unaware of any website called Facebook or Twitter.

Back in 2002 was also the last time that FC Barcelona and Real Madrid met in European competition and just like this year, they met in the UEFA Champions League semifinals.

The hype that year may have even dwarfed the hype from this particular meeting, as it was the first time the two rivals had met in European competition since 1960. That year saw the legendary Madrid side of Alfredo di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás vanquish Barcelona 6-2 on aggregate before demolishing Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in the final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup.

The first leg of the 2002 semifinal was to be played in Barcelona at the Camp Nou, and the attacking onus was on the Catalans at home. Both sides were missing key figures, as Madrid was without Luis Figo due to suspension, while Rivaldo was missing for Barcelona due to injury. Here is how the teams lined up:

Barcelona XI: GK Roberto Bonano, Michael Reiziger, Frank de Boer, Abelardo Fernández, Phillip Cocu, Fábio Rochemback, Luis Enrique, Thiago Motta, Marc Overmars, Patrick Kluivert, Javier Saviola

Madrid XI: GK César, Míchel Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Fernando Hierro, Iván Helguera, Santiago Solari, Paco Pavón, Claude Makelele, Guti, Zinédine Zidane, Raúl González

Barcelona’s backup goalkeeper that day was 19 year-old Pepe Reina, while Real Madrid’s backup was 20 year-old Iker Casillas.

The first half of the match was dominated by the home side, as expected, but Barcelona was  unable to find a breakthrough. In the 55th minute, Raul put Zidane through for Real Madrid, and the Frenchman chipped over the onrushing goalkeeper Bonano for a vital opener for the away side. As Barcelona pushed for the equalizer, Real found a killer second away goal in stoppage time through substitute Steve McManaman. Final score: Barcelona 0-2 Real Madrid.


          Steve McManaman | Scored killer second in the first leg at the Nou Camp.

The win was Real’s first at the Nou Camp in almost 19 years and gave them a massive advantage heading into the second leg at home.

Barcelona was still missing Rivaldo for the second leg, but they did insert two players into the starting XI that are still with the team nearly a decade later: Xavi and Carles Puyol. Real Madrid, for their part, welcomed back Luis Figo from suspension.

In the 43rd minute, Real Madrid ended the tie as a contest, as Raul blasted a shot home from just outside the area to make it 3-0 on aggregate. The second half was mostly a formality, as Barcelona managed to pull a goal back in the 49th minute via an Ivan Helguera own goal. Final score on the night was 1-1, and Real Madrid advanced to the Champions League Final by a 3-1 aggregate scoreline. 

Real Madrid advanced to the final at Hampden Park in Glasgow where, just like in 1960, they defeated German opposition to claim the title of Best in Europe. This time, Bayer Leverkusen was the opposition who fell to the Madridistas. The match is best known for Zidane’s famous volleyed goal on a ball that fell nearly from the heavens straight down to his thunderous left boot. Final score: Real Madrid 2-1 Leverkusen.

Nine years later, tensions are still present between the United States and Iraq and Nickelback still inexplicably maintain a semblance of popularity. Wednesday night, Madrid and Barcelona will renew pleasantries in European competition and Los Blancos will be hoping to conjure up a bit of nostalgia as they seek a 2002-like result against their arch-rivals to the Northeast.