The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid, the fixture known as the El Clásico or the Classic, is not just the biggest game in the Spanish football calendar but a meeting of the highest order of global appeal. The clash between the two biggest and most successful clubs in Spain and Europe brings the richness, legacy, intensity and excitement that is too hard to ignore, as history is scripted. Many stalwarts of the game have graced the fixture, also providing the stage for generational talents to pop up in the headlines. There have been over 300 El Clásicos in history, defining eras and not failing to give the same dose of football madness each time.
Here is everything you need to know about El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid:
When did El Clásico start?
The first El Clásico was played on May 13, 1902, during the Copa de la Coronación, Spain's first national football competition. Barcelona won the encounter 3-1.
How many times have Barcelona and Real Madrid played each other?
As of 2025, Barcelona and Real Madrid have played each other 303 times, including exhibition games. Of them, 260 have been competitive encounters across all competitions.
Find out here Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Top five biggest wins
Which team has won the most El Clásico?
Overall, Barcelona has won the most El Clásicos, with 128 victories. However, Real Madrid has the edge over the Catalan giants in competitive meetings, with 105 victories.
Which team has won the most El Clásico in La Liga?
Real Madrid has won the most El Clásico matches against FC Barcelona in La Liga, with 76.
Which team has won the most El Clásico on the European stage?
Real Madrid holds the record for the most El Clásico victories in the European stage, with three wins. The first encounter happened in 1960, when Real Madrid triumphed in both legs of the semifinal with a score of 3-1.
Which team has won the most El Clásico consecutively?
Real Madrid has registered the most El Clásico wins with seven in a period between 22 April 1962 – 28 February 1965.
Which player has won the most El Clásico?
Sergio Busquets holds the record for the most El Clásico wins, having triumphed in 23 matches against Real Madrid while playing for FC Barcelona.
Which player has suffered the most losses in El Clásico?
Sergio Ramos is the player who has suffered the most losses in El Clásico against Barcelona while playing for Real Madrid with 20.
Which Real Madrid player has won the most El Clásico?
The Real Madrid player with the most El Clásico wins is Sergio Ramos, who won 20 matches against FC Barcelona during his time at Real Madrid during his 17-year stay at the club.
Which manager has managed the most El Clásico?
The manager who has taken to the sidelines the most in El Clásico is Miguel Muñoz of Real Madrid, with 36 games from 1960 to 1974. 27 of them have come in the league.
Which manager has won the most El Clásico?
Muñoz also holds the record for the most El Clásico wins in history as a manager with 16 during a 15-year stint with Real Madrid.
Which player is the top scorer in El Clásico history?
With 20 goals in 45 El Clásico appearances, Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the fixture’s history.
Which player has scored the most goals in El Clásico consecutively?
Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for scoring the most consecutive goals in El Clásico history, netting seven goals in six straight matches between the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
Which player(s) have scored the most goals in a single El Clásico game?
The record for the most goals scored by a single player in an El Clásico match is held by Diego Gento (1962) and Lionel Messi (2010), who scored four goals in a single game. However, the Argentinian did it in a competitive fixture.
Which team has scored the most goals in El Clásico history?
Real Madrid has scored the most goals in El Clásico history with 416 in competitive matches.
Which player has produced the most assists in El Clásico history?
Lionel Messi is also the player who has produced the most assists in El Clásico history with 14.
Which player has produced the most assists in a single El Clásico game?
Xavi Hernández holds the record for the most assists in a single El Clásico match, providing four assists during FC Barcelona’s 6-2 victory over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu on May 2, 2009, in La Liga.
Which player(s) have produced the most assists in El Clásico in a single season?
Diego Maradona (1982–83) and Lionel Messi (2011–12) have produced the most assists in El Clásico in a single season with five.
Which player has the most appearances in El Clásico history?
Sergio Busquets of Barcelona holds the record for most appearances in El Clásico history, with 48 games played against Real Madrid.
Which Real Madrid player has the most appearances in El Clásico history?
The Real Madrid player with the most appearances in El Clásico history is Sergio Ramos, who has played 45 matches against FC Barcelona.
Which active player has the most appearances in El Clásico history?
Luka Modrić has the most El Clásico appearances among active players, with 37 matches against Barcelona.
Which goalkeeper has kept the most clean sheets in El Clásico history?
Victor Valdes of Barcelona has kept the most clean sheets in El Clásico history with seven.
Which team has the longest undefeated run in El Clásico history?
The longest undefeated streak in El Clásico history belongs to Real Madrid, with eight matches from March 3, 2001, to December 6, 2003.
Which team has the longest winning streak in El Clásico history?
Real Madrid holds the longest winning streak in El Clásico history with seven consecutive wins from September 1962 to February 1965.
Which team has played the most consecutive El Clásico without conceding a goal?
Barcelona has played the most consecutive El Clásicos without conceding a goal from 3 April 1972 to 17 February 1974.
Which is the biggest winning margin in El Clásico history?
The biggest winning margin in El Clásico history is Real Madrid defeating Barcelona by 11-1.
