On 17 February 1957, Real Madrid beat Deportivo de La Coruña to launch a record 121-game home unbeaten streak in the league.
It was Madrid's first home league match since a loss to Atlético Madrid two weeks earlier and they responded by beating Deportivo 1-0 with a goal from forward Enrico Mateos in the 25th minute. They then won their last three remaining home games and claimed the league title.
Amazingly, they continued to defend their home ground in the league for another eight years, going unbeaten over a span of 121 matches that carried them to another six La Liga titles. Of those 121 matches, only eight were draws; they won the remaining 113.
The streak's last game came on 21 February 1965 with a 6-1 win over Real Betis and it ended on 7 March with a loss to Atlético, 0-1.
On 3 January 1995, reigning CONCACAF Player of the Year Tab Ramos became the first player to sign with Major League Soccer.
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1966, Ramos moved to the United States when he was 11. In 1983, he led his high school team to the New Jersey state championship and was named the Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year. He was drafted by the New York Cosmos in the following year, but chose instead to attend North Carolina State University where he was a four-time All ACC selection and a three-time All American.
After brief spells with the American Soccer League's New Jersey Eagles (1988) and Miami Sharks (1989), Ramos was one of several players to sign contracts with the United States Soccer Federation to play exclusively for the national team in preparation for the 1990 World Cup. After the World Cup, the USSF loaned him to Spanish second division club Figueres.
Ramos played well for Figueres in 1990-91, leading to club to purchase his contract from the USSF. At the end of the following season, however, Figueres transferred him to fellow Second Division side Real Betis. Ramos made 59 apperances for Betis over the next two seasons which ended in promotion to Spain's top flight for the 1994-95 season. Ramos' play for Betis, along with his work for the US national team, won him recognition as the 1994 CONCACAF Player of the Year. Although Ramos remained with Betis through 1994-95, he suffered a skull fracture that kept him sidelined for the entire season.
When Ramos signed with MLS, the new league was not yet ready for play, so it loaned him out to Mexican First Division side Tigres. He returned to the US in 1996 to play for the NY/NJ MetroStars in MLS' inaugural season. He played eight seasons for the MetroStars before retiring at the end of the 2002 season. In 2005, he was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame at his first opportunity.
On 11 November 2008, Spanish third division side Real Unión Club de Irún lost away to Real Madrid, 3-4, in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. Thanks to their 3-2 win in the first leg, however, Irún advanced on an aggregate 6-6 score with a 3-2 advantage in away goals.
Irún had already been tested in the cup with early-round wins over CD Lugo (0-3), UE Sant Andreu (2-1), and Barakaldo CF (2-1). Real Madrid, on the other hand, was playing their first match of the tournament, entering the competition in the Fourth Round.
The match was even at 2-2 in the second half, when Real Madrid substitute Alberto Bueno put his team ahead with a goal in the 69th minute. Real Madrid captain Raúl appeared to secure the Blancos' advancement with an 85th-minute strike--his third of the match--but a defensive miscue gave Irún another chance and midfielder Arangoa Eneko Romo scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute.
It was the first time in Real Madrid's history that they were eliminated by a third division side at home. History soon repeated itself, however, as the Blancos were eliminated from the 2009-10 Copa del Rey in the Fourth Round by third division side AD Alcorcón.
Irún's moment of glory was fleeting, as they were eliminated by Real Betis in the Fifth Round, 2-0. In 2009, they were knocked out in the Second Round by second division side RC Celta de Vigo, 2-1.
On 15 January 2012, Betis ended Barcelona's Spanish-record home clean sheet streak, but still lost 4-2.
The streak started the previous season when Barcelona beat Osasuna 2-0 on 23 April, then carried through the first half of the 2011-12 season, reaching a total of 12 games with a 5-0 victory over Levante on 3 December.
But that's where it ended, as Barça's next home league match was against Betis. Despite going down 2-0 to goals from Xavi (9') and Lionel Messi (11'), Rubén Castro scored in the 31st minute, to cut the deficit to 2-1 and end Barcelona's run of shut-outs.
Down 2-1 at the break, Betis drew level in the 50th minute through Roque Santa Cruz. It stayed level until late, when Alexis (73') put the hosts back ahead, then Messi added another for security (80').
Although they were denied the win, Betis could have taken some comfort in breaking the spell of Barcelona's home form, as they went on to concede goals in their next four home games.
On 9 December 2012, Lionel Messi scored twice to beat Gerd Müller's record for goals in a calendar year. But it turned out not to be quite the record everyone thought it was.
Going into Barcelona's away match against Real Betis, Messi was sitting on a total of 84 goals scored in 2012 for his club and Argentina, putting him one behind the mark of 85 set by Gerd Müller in 1972 for Bayern Munich and Germany. But he scored twice in the first half (16', 25') to surpass Müller's record and Barcelona went on to win 1-2.
Afterward, several post-match reports referred to Messi's achievement as a world record. But the Football Association of Zambia claimed that one of their players, Godfrey Chitalu, scored a massive 107 goals in 1972, the same year that Müller reached his own record. FIFA refused to recognize either accomplishment, citing issues of proof, so they remain unofficial for now, with Messi having the European record and Chitalu having the overall world record.
Messi went on to score another five goals before the end of the year, taking his number to 91.
On 17 February 1957, Real Madrid beat Deportivo de La Coruña to launch a record 121-game home unbeaten streak in the league.
It was Madrid's first home league match since a loss to Atlético Madrid two weeks earlier and they responded by beating Deportivo 1-0 with a goal from forward Enrico Mateos (pictured) in the 25th minute. They then won their last three remaining home games and claimed the league title.
Amazingly, they continued to defend their home ground in the league for another eight years, going unbeaten over a span of 121 matches that carried them to another six La Liga titles. Of those 121 matches, only eight were draws; they won the remaining 113.
The streak's last game came on 21 February 1965 with a 6-1 win over Real Betis and it ended on 7 March with a loss to Atletico, 0-1.
On 3 January 1995, reigning CONCACAF Player of the Year Tab Ramos became the first player to sign with Major League Soccer.
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1966, Ramos moved to the United States when he was 11. In 1983, he led his high school team to the New Jersey state championship and was named the Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year. He was drafted by the New York Cosmos in the following year, but chose instead to attend North Carolina State University where he was a four-time All ACC selection and a three-time All American.
After brief spells with the American Soccer League's New Jersey Eagles (1988) and Miami Sharks (1989), Ramos was one of several players to sign contracts with the United States Soccer Federation to play exclusively for the national team in preparation for the 1990 World Cup. After the World Cup, the USSF loaned him to Spanish second division club Figueres.
Ramos played well for Figueres in 1990-91, leading to club to purchase his contract from the USSF. At the end of the following season, however, Figueres transferred him to fellow Second Division side Real Betis. Ramos made 59 apperances for Betis over the next two seasons which ended in promotion to Spain's top flight for the 1994-95 season. Ramos' play for Betis, along with his work for the US national team, won him recognition as the 1994 CONCACAF Player of the Year. Although Ramos remained with Betis through 1994-95, he suffered a skull fracture that kept him sidelined for the entire season.
When Ramos signed with MLS, the new league was not yet ready for play, so it loaned him out to Mexican First Division side Tigres. He returned to the US in 1996 to play for the NY/NJ MetroStars in MLS' inaugural season. He played eight seasons for the MetroStars before retiring at the end of the 2002 season. In 2005, he was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame at his first opportunity.
On 11 November 2008, Spanish third division side Real Unión Club de Irún lost away to Real Madrid, 3-4, in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. Thanks to their 3-2 win in the first leg, however, Irún advanced on an aggregate 6-6 score with a 3-2 advantage in away goals.
Irún had already been tested in the cup with early-round wins over CD Lugo (0-3), UE Sant Andreu (2-1), and Barakaldo CF (2-1). Real Madrid, on the other hand, was playing their first match of the tournament, entering the competition in the Fourth Round.
The match was even at 2-2 in the second half, when Real Madrid substitute Alberto Bueno put his team ahead with a goal in the 69th minute. Real Madrid captain Raúl appeared to secure the Blancos' advancement with an 85th-minute strike--his third of the match--but a defensive miscue gave Irún another chance and midfielder Arangoa Eneko Romo scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute.
It was the first time in Real Madrid's history that they were eliminated by a third division side at home. History soon repeated itself, however, as the Blancos were eliminated from the 2009-10 Copa del Rey in the Fourth Round by third division side AD Alcorcón.
Irún's moment of glory was fleeting, as they were eliminated by Real Betis in the Fifth Round, 2-0. In 2009, they were knocked out in the Second Round by second division side RC Celta de Vigo, 2-1.
