Iconic el Clasico moments: Raul silences Barcelona’s Camp Nou in 1999 [VIDEO]

While the clutch of the world’s best players in situ at both Barcelona and Real Madrid make “El Clasico” the most hotly anticipated match in the globe today, the rivalry between these two illustrious sides has stretched back over various generations and a host of cultural and political demographics.

Naturally, a rivalry this longstanding has conjured up some pretty special fixtures down the years and what better time to look back at some of the most iconic moments in the history of these two Spanish giants in the week leading up to what will surely be another engrossing occasion.

The first of the series is a game for Madridistas to relish as we look back on a classic encounter from October 1999 in which one of Real’s legendary figures got one over on the Blaugrana.

Programming note: Soccer fans in the US, watch el Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid on Sunday, March 22 at 4PM ET on beIN SPORTS. If you don’t get beIN SPORTS, watch it live (and legally) via DishWorld for just $10/month for La Liga, Serie A, Ligue Un coverage and more. Watch DishWorld on your phone, computer, tablet or Roku. Plus, in addition to La Liga, Serie A and more, you’ll get Chelsea TV, Arsenal TV, Bayern Munich TV and more.

Barcelona 2-2 Real Madrid, Oct. 26 1999

There are few players who embody the principles of Real Madrid quite like Raul Gonzalez. The forward’s career with the capital club spanned 16 trophy-laden years, during which he lifted six league titles and three Champions League crowns. When he left for Schalke in 2010, Raul had played a whopping 741 games and 323 goals.

But for all the synonymous memories of Raul scoring goals and lifting trophies in the iconic all-white jersey, there are few more memorable than the image of him pressing his finger against his lips to the baying Barcelona supporters after netting a late equalizer at the Camp Nou at the end of a fascinating fixture.

In truth, it was a game that boasted such an array of quality players it would probably rival the current clash for pulling power. Louis van Gaal’s Barcelona side on the night contained Patrick Kluivert, Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Rivaldo and Luis Figo, while the Los Blancos forward line of Fernando Morientes, Nicolas Anelka and Raul represented a formidable offensive triumvirate.

It was the latter of that clutch of star names who got Real off to a perfect start in this fixture as he put the visitors in front with a trademark near post header. But Barcelona’s array of star players grew into the contest and Rivaldo put them back on level terms just shy of the half-hour mark with a fine left-footed finish from the edge of the area.

That goal galvanized a raucous home crowd and the Blaugrana jerseys piled forward from that point on. Eventually they got the goal their effervescent attacking play deserved, with Luis Figo—prior to making his controversial switch from Barcelona to Real, of course—smashing a wonderful left-footed shot into the top corner to send the watching Catalonians into raptures.

As is the case in any derby match, the tackles were flying in and tempers began to flare between the two sets of players. It got too much for Dutch forward Kluivert, as he lost his temper and saw red mid0way through the first half.

That dismissal set the tone for an aggressive approach from both sides in the latter stages of the contest, with scuffles aplenty ensuing as the clock ticked down.

But Barcelona were edging ever closer to an important win and their supporters’ emotions turned from angst at the opposing players into adulation for the 10 men looking to cling on to a win over their great rivals. Raul put an end to the Catalan choruses, though.

It was the kind of finish that became Raul’s penchant during his illustrious Los Blancos career. His instincts remained razor sharp in the 86th minute as he sped onto a loose ball between two Barcelona defenders, before insouciantly lofting the ball over the charging Real goalkeeper Ruud Hesp.

Raul wheeled away having made it 2-2 and much to the delight of the Madridistas, beckoned the Barcelona supporters to quieten down.

The forward was so often the scourge of the Blaugrana in his Real Madrid career, bagging 15 goals against Barcelona during his time with the Santiago Bernabeu club; the footage of him, finger on lips, with angry Catalan fans providing an infuriated backdrop, couldn’t better sum up this Los Blancos deity.

Follow Matt on Twitter @MattJFootball