An investigation of the intrigue, politics and culture behind El Clasico - the hard-fought, long-running contest between two of the world's biggest football clubs - explaining the place sport's greatest rivalry has in Spanish life and the world of football.

Fitzpatrick's book is invaluable for the context that it gives a match that you might have watched superficially for years Observer Richard Fitzpatrick ... is an objective examiner of the complex political and social reasons this rivalry was born and nurtured, unearthing some surprising facts along the way ... Engrossing Independent Once I picked up El Clasico, I couldn't stop reading. It's unbelievably good ... Absolutely fascinating Mark Lawrenson The greatest story in club football is the El Clasico opera. Richard Fitzpatrick delves deep to enhance our understanding of this intense rivalry. Power, politics and most of all the brilliance of the football are all on show in these pages Paul Hayward, Daily Telegraph A fascinating and detailed attempt to get to the heart of one of the most complicated and poisonous rivalries in football Guardian For anyone who wants to understand why Barcelona v Real Madrid means so much more than a straightforward match between an unparalleled array of footballing stars, this book should become essential reading Guillem Balague, Sky Sports Top football writing Dara O Briain By taking Barca vs Madrid beyond the boundaries of sport, Fitzpatrick offers an absorbing history of the two cities' political and cultural flashpoints, and how this has matured into one of the most fiery rivalries on earth. Suberbly researched, it's a fascinating read FourFourTwo Fitzpatrick's tales of some the world's best football players will hold you at every page Irish Examiner Carefully positioning himself as an outsider ... Fitzpatrick gives voice to a huge range of opinions and personal stories from both sides of the fence... [which] makes El Clasico such a satisfying read When Saturday Comes Magazine Richard Fitzpatrick's enormously enjoyable take on the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona Irish Times Any fan of the game will start reading for the football, be enticed deeper by the quality of writing and research and enthralled by the depth and scope of El Clasico The Book Bag

Richard Fitzpatrick was born in Ireland. He has worked as a journalist in Dublin, San Francisco and Toronto. He currently lives in Barcelona, where he covers football for the Irish Times, New York Times and El Pais among others.