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el Clásico

Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: why did Real Madrid play in black?

Real Madrid played in all black against Barcelona in Sunday's Clásico defeat. Why did Carlo Ancelotti's team wear their fourth kit when they were at home?

Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: why did Real Madrid play in black?

There was a noticeable difference in Sunday's Clásico - the 248th meeting between Real Madrid and Barcelona, which the visitors won 4-0. This time, Real Madrid were not in their classic all-white kit to take on their eternal rivals. Instead, the team wore a specially-commissioned black strip - this season's fourth kit. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois meanwhile, swapped his usual green kit for a rose pink one. Madrid's fourth kit is part of a new collection designed by Adidas to commemorate the club's 120th birthday which they celebrated just a couple of weeks ago on 6 March. The last time that Madrid didn't wear their traditional all-white kit in a Clásico was during the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup in 2017-18. Los Blancos won that game 1-3 at Camp Nou with Piqué scoring an own goal and Cristiano Ronaldo and Marco Asensio sealing the win. Madrid decided to wear their turqouise blue third kit for the first time in that first leg but were back in all-white a few days later for the return leg at the Bernabéu. 

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The collection also marks the 20th anniversary of Adidas' collaboration with Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto, and Y-3, which specialises in cutting-edge sportswear. Yamamoto designed a limited edition black kit for Real Madrid ahead of the 2014-2015 season. The new collection also includes warm-up clothing, training garments and other accessories such an oversized scarves and bags. "The association has expanded for a broader collection, representing the fusion of dynamism and speed," the German sportswear firm, Real Madrid's official sponsors since 1998, explained in a statement.

The collection was launched with a publicity campaign entitled, The Ceremony. Benzema, Marcelo, Alaba, Mendy, Misa, Caroline Møller and Iker Casillas are the faces of the campaign. All of the clothes in the new collection went on sale to the general public on Friday through Real Madrid's online shop, their official stores and the Adidas out in the Gran Vía, Madrid's main shopping thoroughfare.

Barcelona, with the Senyera

And neither did Barcelona take to the Santiago Bernabéu pitch wearing their traditional blue and claret kit. Xavi Hernández's team wore a yellow kit with red stripes - the colours of the Catalan regional flag, the Senyera. The decision to wear the Senyera kit was made by club president Joan Laporta.