There are football matches. And then there is El Clásico.
On October 26, 2025, I experienced my very first El Clásico at the Bernabéu. Being able to attend one of the biggest matches in world football already felt surreal. But experiencing it from inside the stadium, surrounded by thousands of fans, journalists, cameras and the constant tension in the air, was something completely different.
Hours before the kickoff, the atmosphere around the stadium was already intense. But inside the stadium, the energy was on another level. Every pass, tackle and chance immediately created a reaction from the crowd. You could feel how much this match meant to everyone. From the first minutes, the intensity on the pitch was obvious. Both teams played aggressively and every attack felt dangerous.
Real Madrid won 2-1 in a highly intense and emotional match. Mbappé opened the scoring in the first half before Fermín Lopez equalized for Barcelona. Shortly before halftime, Jude Bellingham restored Madrid’s lead with turned out to be the winning goal.
From a journalistic perspective, it was fascinating to observe the media environment during a match of this magnitude. The press areas were packed and photographers constantly searched for the perfect moment.
Watching El Clásico live made me realize why this fixture is one of the greatest spectacles in sports. Television can show you the match, but it cannot fully capture the tension inside the stadium.
For me, this experience was much more than just another football game. It reminded me why I decided to pursue a job in the sports industry.
