A lifetime of Clásicos

Football careers are unpredictable. There are paths that can lead a player to success or failure, to glory or ruin, to becoming a legend or passing by unnoticed, to becoming what they always dreamed about with a ball by their side.

The latter is the case of the following two players who, this weekend, will take centre stage in a world-class Liga BBVA clash once again when they meet for yet another instalment of El Clásico. These men are of course Xavi Hernández and Iker Casillas.

The footballing careers of these two Spanish internationals share a lot in common. The sport has spurred on a friendship between the pair that has brought about plenty of success for Spanish football both in terms of the international team as well as on a club level. However, despite their close relationship, Xavi and Iker are rivals on the pitch. One has spent his life togging out for FC Barcelona, while the other is a Real Madrid man through and through.

The azulgrana’s evergreen number 6 has also left his mark on the scoring charts, racking up four goals in 28 games.

Their beginnings
As two sides of the same coin, both men played in their inaugural Liga BBVA Clásicos on the same day. That was back on matchday 26 of the 1999-2000 Liga BBVA season when Louis Van Gaal and Vicente Del Bosque opted to put on two youngsters, who over time would both become legends for los azulgranas and los blancos.

The Catalan came on for Dutchman Winston Bogarde at halftime, while Iker started the game (as he has done all of the Liga BBVA Clásicos he has featured in). That meeting ended 3-0 in favour of Barcelona.

Their records in Los Clásicos
Xavi Hernández has played this fixture, which garners worldwide attention, more times than anyone else. The Terrasa-born midfielder has provided his team with exquisite ball control against their bitter rivals in 28 such clashes, and has started 25 of them.

The evergreen azulgrana number 6 has also left his mark on the scoring charts, having scored four goals in 28 games, the last of which came during the 2011-12 season, when Barcelona triumphed 1-3 in the Santiago Bernabéu. Overall, Xavi’s record against los blancos is quite impressive, entailing twelve wins, seven draws and nine defeats.

Iker has started every Clásico in which he has featured 

Since making their debuts, Iker Casillas has only played two games less than his friend during this fourteen-year spell. Iker has won nine head-to-heads with the Catalans, drawn seven and lost ten. However, Casillas has been on the losing side after three of the last four league encounters between the teams. This weekend represents another chance for him to defend his beloved crest in the Camp Nou.

Last chance?
As well as adding to their legacies with their respective teams, this could also be one of the last Clásicos either plays in, as there is a possibility they will both move on in the coming years. Their age is starting to show and very soon it will be time for them to give way to the new Xavis and new Ikers. The Camp Nou will bear witness to another frenetic clash, a game that could wrap up the championship or add another plot twist to the thrilling 2014-15 season. But whatever happens, the Barcelona '6' and the Real Madrid '1' will be part of the experience.