The game of their lives

"Probably the game of my life," is FC Barcelona coach Carles Rexach neat summation of the significance of tonight's Camp Nou showdown against Real Madrid CF. Forty-one seasons after Spain's two biggest clubs last met on the European stage, they contest a place in this year's final, in a tie which should live long in the memory.

One hundred-year rivalry
In the ten years since the European Champion Clubs' Cup became the UEFA Champions League, the group format has allowed some cross-continent rivalries to develop. Manchester United FC v FC Bayern München is one, Madrid v Bayern another. What awaits at the Camp Nou, however, and in the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday week, is something else altogether. Here is a 100-year rivalry arguably unmatched anywhere else in Europe.

Lustrous reputations
These are Spain's most-titled clubs, two teams with lustrous reputations who between them have won 120 pieces of silverware. Madrid have amassed 28 league titles and Barcelona 16, and only Athletic Club Bilbao share their record of having never been relegated. When they meet, the stakes are invariably high. Down the years Madrid have the edge: they hold a 79-74 advantage in their 190 meetings in all competitions. Moreover, they have won a record eight European Cups to Barcelona's one.

Four goals disallowed
Controversy has touched many of their meetings (which make most so-called 'heavyweight clashes' look like Tom & Jerry). When Barcelona overcame Madrid in the 1961 European Cup - following up a 2-2 away draw with a 2-1 home win that inflicted a first European knockout on their rivals - the Madridistas pointed to four goals they had disallowed by referee Reg Leafe in the second leg.

Axe to grind
Barcelona have their own causes for complaint. The visit of a hostile government official to their dressing room before an 11-1 cup semi-final defeat in Madrid in 1943 lent weight to Catalan resentment over Madrid's role as Franco's favoured club. Then there was the loss of Alfredo di Stéfano to Madrid after both players had pursued the player. (Although Barça had earlier signed Ladislao Kubala ahead of their great rivals.)

'I could not  move'
The most recent cause of controversy was the defection of Luis Figo to Madrid. Figo (whose wife had to sell her restaurant in Barcelona in the wake of the transfer) is suspended from tonight's first leg - which spares him the torrid reception given those who cross the divide. When former Barcelona favourite Michael Laudrup returned to the club with Madrid, he said he was "paralysed", adding: "I could not move. I could not pass the ball. I could not play."

Atmosphere in Camp Nou
Even worse lay in store for Figo on his return as a Madridista last season. Cards held aloft by the crowd carried the message 'Figo = traitor'. Three mobile phones were among the objects that rained down on the Portuguese playmaker. Recalling that night, Madrid's general manager and former striker Jorge Valdano, said this week: "Di Stéfano, who was with me, told me he'd never seen anything like it in his life. The atmosphere in the Camp Nou is so strong that it can affect our players."

Semi-final in 1960
For all their achievements, there is a sense that Barcelona play a constant game of catch-up with Madrid, whose five European Cups from 1956-60 today overshadows the Azulgrana's own exploits of the 50s when they won three Spanish titles. Indeed, Barcelona were Spanish champions (having pipped Madrid on goals scored) when the Merengues beat them home and away in the 1960 semi-final - progressing to that famous Glasgow final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

'Dream team'
More recently, the 1992 European Cup won by Johan Cruyff's 'dream team' - subsequently defeated in the 1994 final against Milan AC, Barça's third final loss - has since been followed by Madrid's triumphs of 1998 and 2000.

'Nothing else to play for'
Where Madrid, in their centenary year, remain in title contention in Spain, Barcelona's stop-start season hangs on this semi-final. Cruyff believes "they've nothing else to play for". Valdano has also acknowledged that "Barça are under more pressure". However, the Argentinian hopes this meeting of "two such important clubs" will serve to "showcase Spanish football" rather than spill over into acrimony. Whatever happens, the Champions League is unlikely to have seen anything like it.