(Getty)
Messi. Ronaldo. El Clasico is about more than just high-profile players. It’s about the rivalry and history of the two biggest clubs in Spain. Modern salaries have certainly affected the matchup, but Real Madrid and Barcelona are still two fundamentally different clubs with equally different fanbases. That being said, the all-time history between these clubs is almost too close to call.
Real Madrid and Barcelona have met, in total, 231 times across all competitions. Before today’s match, Real Madrid lead the overall tally 93-90 with 48 draws. In each major competition in which these two teams would meet, Madrid have the better record.
The home team has the advantage in any matchup, but both Clasicos were won by visiting teams in 2015. Barcelona embarrassed Madrid 4-0 at the Bernabeu, leading to the sacking of then-manager Rafa Benitez. In the next meeting at Camp Nou, Zinedine Zidane was in charge as Madrid came from behind to win 2-1. There have been 111 meetings at Camp Nou, and Barca have won 62 of them.
Read more about the history of El Clasico in Spanish at AhoraMismo.com:
