Real Madrid fans’ Barcelona anger laid bare after Endrick goal in Austria

Real Madrid supporters broke into repeated anti-Barcelona chants during a friendly against Fiorentina at the Worthersee Stadium in Austria, exposing the frustration caused by their club’s recent struggles against its historic rivals.

The chants began in the 12th minute, shortly after Endrick scored the opening goal of the match. A section of the crowd repeatedly shouted “Puta Barca”, an insulting Spanish chant used by rival supporters, including fans of Real Madrid and Espanyol, against Barcelona.

The unusual outburst came during a pre-season fixture against the Italian club and highlighted the depth of resentment among Real Madrid fans after a series of defeats by Barcelona. It also reflected the psychological pressure created by their rivals’ dominance over the past two seasons.

Real Madrid have failed to win a major trophy since Kylian Mbappe joined the club two seasons ago. During that period, the Spanish league title, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League have all eluded them.

Barcelona, by contrast, have won every competition contested by the two clubs during that time under German manager Hansi Flick. Their run of success has intensified the sense of crisis at Real Madrid, a club accustomed to competing for domestic and European honours every season.

That situation prompted Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to make the bold decision to bring back Jose Mourinho for a second spell. The move recalled the club’s decision to appoint the Portuguese coach in 2010, when he was recruited to challenge the dominant Barcelona side built around manager Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi.

Perez also spent heavily during the latest transfer window in an attempt to create a squad capable of ending Barcelona’s control and restoring Real Madrid to the top of both the domestic and European game. The investment was intended to bring an end to a sequence of disappointments that has continued to trouble the Santiago Bernabeu.

The anger has not been confined to recruitment or boardroom decisions. The reaction from the stands in Austria showed that the frustration has reached an unusual level, with supporters using a friendly match to express their feelings about Barcelona’s recent achievements.

The success of Barcelona’s players with Spain has added to the unease among Real Madrid supporters. Barcelona players formed the backbone of the Spain team that won the World Cup, echoing the situation in 2010 and deepening the sense of crisis at a club that has traditionally stood at the summit of European football.

For the anti-Barcelona chants to be heard so loudly during a friendly against an Italian opponent offered a striking indication of how difficult some Real Madrid supporters are finding it to accept their rivals’ success. Such a scene is unusual for a club that takes pride in its long history and exceptional record of achievement.