Can you recall the only El Clásico played on 28 October?

All of us can recall a significant date, but there are likely to be many throughout FC Barcelona's history. Even more so when you think about the successful clashes against the eternal rival. Now, they can be narrowed down when the Spotify Camp Nou scoreboard indicates five goals and when players such as Ter Stegen, Piqué, Jordi Alba, Sergio and Luis Suárez were on the pitch. Is the El Clásico on 28 October we are referring to now coming back to you?

It was the only El Clásico played on 28 October to date, and that's considering there have been 288 so far, 254 of which were competitive fixtures. Five years later, Barça and Real Madrid are set to face each other again on 28 October, with kickoff also at 4.15pm CEST. This will be the game of the 2023/24 season at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and the blaugranes will wear the jersey featuring the iconic Rolling Stones' tongue and lips logo. Before that, however, let's go back to the Spotify Camp Nou for the only El Clásico played on 28 October to date. It will definitely bring back good memories. 

A deserved 5-1

It was the 2018/19 Liga season and an Ernesto Valverde-coached Barça took to the pitch with the following line up: Ter Stegen, Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Arthur, Rafinha, Coutinho and Suárez. Semedo, Dembélé and Arturo Vidal would enter the fray later, the latter adding to the fans' joy that afternoon.

With Leo Messi absent due to a fractured right arm, few expected a blaugrana goalfest. A 5-1 scoreline. A result that hadn't been seen since 2 February 1954, when Ferdinand Daucik's FC Barcelona beat the all-whites with goals by Tejada (2), César, Moreno and Manchón.

The 93,265 fans in the stands first enjoyed a goal by Philippe Coutinho. A 1-0 steeped in the blaugrana style. Play began with Ter Stegen and after a long period of possession, the Brazilian hit the back of the net. The second moment of Barça joy came from the penalty spot courtesy of Luis Suárez. One of the key figures on this matchday, he snuffed out the 2-1 response by Marcelo to complete his hat-trick (4-1). Arturo Vidal then scored a powerful header to make it five and bring the blaugrana house down on that 28 October. 

Now, five years on from the only El Clásico played on 28 October, Xavi Hernández' Barça will be looking to win and draw ever closer to the number of Real Madrid wins in competitive El Clásico matches. The all-whites have won two more at present (100 vs 102), and the first Barça v Madrid at Montjuïc is the ideal setting to narrow the gap.