El Clásico: 20 facts about the most heated football rivalry

• Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns for the 229th time on Saturday, October 26
• In the history of football's most iconic rivalry, Real Madrid's 11-1 victory over Barcelona in 1943 was the biggest victory ever for the Los Blancos side
• TheRadar has compiled 20 facts about the El Clásico which fans should know

El Clásico is one of the most iconic and intense rivalries in football, pitting Spain's two most illustrious clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid C.F., against each other. 

These teams face off twice annually in the league, with potential additional meetings in the Copa del Rey, Champions League, Supercopa de España, and possibly even the UEFA Super Cup. As one of the most anticipated fixtures in global football, El Clásico garners a lot of attention and viewership.

The rivalry dates back to May 13, 1902, and the teams have since met 228 times in official competitions. 

Real Madrid holds a slight edge with 92 victories, while Barcelona has 89 wins, and 48 matches ended in draws. When including friendly games, Barcelona edges ahead with 108 wins compared to Real Madrid’s 96. 

Together, these clubs have amassed 54 La Liga titles and are among the wealthiest football institutions in the world.

Facts about the Spanish football El Clásico

TheRadar compiles below a list of important facts about the El Clásico

1. The biggest rivalry in football history: El Clásico is widely regarded as the most intense rivalry in football, bringing together two of Spain's most prestigious clubs, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Interestingly, the match transcends sports, cutting through deep historical, cultural, and political ties and differences.

2. Highly-watched fixture: Outside of the UEFA Champions League final, El Clásico is arguably the most followed club match globally, attracting hundreds of millions of viewers and captivating fans across the world.

3. Evolution of El Clásico's definition: Initially the word was used exclusively for La Liga matches between these two clubs, at present the term “El Clásico” now describes any encounter between Barcelona and Real Madrid, including the Copa del Rey, UEFA Champions League, and Supercopa de España.

4. Head-to-head showdown: In competitive matches, Real Madrid leads the rivalry with 92 wins to Barcelona's 89, with 48 draws. However, when exhibition games are factored in, Barcelona has the upper hand with 108 wins to Madrid's 96.

5. Last goalless El Clásico: The last 0-0 draw between Barcelona and Real Madrid happened in November 2002 at Camp Nou. In Madrid, the last goalless El Clásico was during the playoff of the 1986/87 season.

6. The Alfredo Di Stefano transfer saga: One of the most controversial moments in El Clásico's history came in the 1950s when Argentine legend Alfredo Di Stefano signed contracts with both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Eventually, a compromise allowed him to play for Madrid, igniting outrage among fans.

7. High-profile player swaps: Several football icons, including Luis Figo and Ronaldo, have donned both the Barcelona and Real Madrid jerseys. Their transfers, especially Figo’s move to Madrid, are among the most notorious in El Clásico history.

8. The 11-1 Madrid victory in 1943: A defining moment in the rivalry occurred in 1943 when Real Madrid triumphed 11-1 against Barcelona in the Copa del Generalísimo. Though the match was played under peculiar circumstances, it stands as Madrid's biggest victory in El Clásico history.

9. ‘The El Clásico King’: Lionel Messi holds the record for the most goals scored in El Clásico with 21 goals. He also leads in assists (13) and hat-tricks (2).

10. El Clásico's appearance leader: Manuel Sanchis, a Real Madrid legend, holds the record for the most El Clásico appearances, featuring in 43 matches, with 29 of those being La Liga games.

11. Highest scoring El Clásico: The most goals in a single El Clásico league match was during the 1934/35 season when Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 8-2, marking the highest goal margin in the rivalry's history.

12. Barcelona's memorable 5-0 victory in 1974: One of Barcelona's most iconic El Clásico victories came in 1974 when Johan Cruyff led the team to a 5-0 win at the Santiago Bernabéu, a moment that remains legendary among fans.

13. No UCL final showdown: Despite their fierce rivalry, Real Madrid and Barcelona have never faced each other in a UEFA Champions League final.

14. Consecutive wins record: Real Madrid holds the record for the most consecutive El Clásico victories, winning six straight matches between February 22nd, 1962, and February 28th, 1965.

15. Best winning streak: Barcelona's longest winning streak in El Clásico stands at five games, achieved twice: from January 25th, 1948, to January 15th, 1949, and again from December 13th, 2008, to November 29th, 2010.

16. Consecutive goal record: Cristiano Ronaldo is the player with the most consecutive games scored in El Clásico, finding the back of the net in six straight encounters.

17. Longest unbeaten streak: Barcelona boasts the longest unbeaten streak in El Clásico history, going 13 games without defeat from November 1st, 1917, to June 3rd, 1928. Real Madrid's best run is 10 games between January 31st, 1931, and February 3rd, 1935.

18. Goal supremacy: In all their meetings, Barcelona has scored 451 goals, slightly edging out Real Madrid’s 426.

19. Most memorable victories: Barcelona has beaten Real Madrid 5-0 on four separate occasions, with their biggest win being a 7-2 triumph on September 24th, 1950.

20. Lionel Messi’s historic hat-trick: On March 10th, 2007, at just 19 years old, Lionel Messi became the youngest player to score a hat-trick in El Clásico.

2024 Ballon d'Or: Who will reign in a new era without Messi and Ronaldo?

Previously, TheRadar reported that as the 2024 Ballon d'Or approaches, excitement builds for one of the most anticipated nights in football. 

The prestigious awards ceremony, which will be held in Paris on October 28, promises to crown the year’s finest talents, and for the first time in two decades, the footballing world must look beyond the iconic duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with neither legend in the running for the men's prize, the stage is set for a new rivalry to rise.