Real Madrid v FC Barcelona (1943 Copa del Generalísimo)
Football match / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On 13 June 1943, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 11–1 in the second leg of the Copa del Generalísimo semi-finals, the Spanish Cup having been renamed in honor of General Francisco Franco.[note 1][1]
Event | 1943 Copa del Generalísimo | ||||||
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Date | 13 June 1943 | ||||||
Venue | Estadio Chamartín, Madrid | ||||||
Referee | Celestino Rodríguez (Spain) |
In the first leg at Les Corts, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 3–0, in an intense match. During the next few days, the Madrid press exaggerated the attitude of Barcelona's fans, and clamored for an exceptional answer from Real Madrid supporters. The hostility of Madrid fans (and some strange decisions of the referee) at the start of the second leg (some players of Barcelona said they "feared for their lives") helped Real Madrid to an 8–0 lead at half time and 11–1 at the end of the match, thus advancing to the final 11–4 on aggregate, which they lost to Athletic Bilbao.[2] Barcelona's president was dismissed, and some months later Real Madrid's president, Santiago Bernabéu, offered his excuses.[2]
The 1943 Copa semi-final is often listed as one of the most controversial games in the history of Spanish football. Thanks to its resounding result, behind-the-scenes drama, and controversy for a total of 12 goals in just 90 minutes, this match is regarded as one of the most notable football matches of the first half of the 20th century. Some historians ascribe the match a lasting impact on both Madrid and Catalonia's football history, contributing to the birth of the well-known football rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona.[1][3][4] Fernando Argila, Barcelona's reserve goalkeeper from the game, said, "There was no rivalry. Not, at least, until that game."[3]