FC Barcelona won’t give Club World Cup champs Real Madrid a guard of honour

Real Madrid may have won the Club World Cup, but they will not receive a guard of honour from FC Barcelona during El Clasico, said Guillermo Amor, a director at Barca.

FC Barcelona ruled out performing a guard of honour for Real Madrid ahead of the El Clasico after their rivals’ Club World Cup success.

(File pic) FC Barcelona players form a guard of honour for La Liga champions Real Madrid before the start of the El Clasico La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on May 7, 2008. (Getty Images)

Madrid host a crucial Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, needing a win to close an 11-point gap to Barca.

After leading Zinedine Zidane’s men to their Club World Cup win, Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo said Barcelona should give his team a guard of honour.

However, Guillermo Amor – a director at Barca – ruled that idea out.

“We make it clear that we only do this when we participate in the competition,” he said after Barca’s 4-0 thrashing of Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

“When we compete in the competition, we will do it but that is not the case. That’s the way it is.”

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde said he was yet to even consider the possibility of a guard of honour.

“We’ve only just finished this game,” he said. “I haven’t even paid it a thought.”

Unbeaten in 16 league games this season, Barca hold a six-point advantage over second-placed Atletico Madrid.