El Clasico: Barcelona hosts Real Madrid with 106 wins apiece
The two clubs are deadlocked in their long-standing rivalry, and Sunday's match could break the tie for historical bragging rights.
By Kevin Sanders ·
Barcelona and Real Madrid face off at Camp Nou on Sunday, with the two clubs entering the match tied at 106 victories each. A three-point margin for either side would settle a statistical deadlock that has persisted since 1902. The fixture, known as El Clasico, remains one of the most watched events in global football.
The rivalry has featured generational talent for over two decades. Past iterations included Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham. Current rosters shift the focus to Lamine Yamal and Raphinha for Barcelona, while Real Madrid fields Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. The outcome of Sunday's game will determine which squad holds the upper hand in their shared history.
Historical context provides a baseline for the current contest. On May 2, 2009, Barcelona dominated at the Bernabeu with a 6-2 victory. Thierry Henry scored twice in that match, while Lionel Messi, Carles Puyol, and Gerard Pique also found the net. That result helped Barcelona secure the league title by nine points.
Real Madrid has also produced decisive wins. In April 2005, the home side defeated Barcelona 4-2. Zinedine Zidane opened the scoring, and Ronaldo Nazario and Raul extended the lead before Michael Owen scored the winner in the 65th minute. Despite the loss, Barcelona won the league that season by three points.
High-scoring draws have defined other chapters of the rivalry. In March 2007, a 19-year-old Messi scored his first career hat-trick to rescue a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou. He equalized in stoppage time after his team played with 10 men. Both clubs finished that season with 76 points, with Real Madrid taking the title on head-to-head record.
Cup finals have offered tight results. In April 2011, Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey final 1-0 in extra time. Cristiano Ronaldo headed in a pass from Angel Di Maria to secure the trophy. It was the club's first domestic cup since 1993 and its first under then-manager Jose Mourinho.
The most recent memorable clash occurred in April 2017 at the Bernabeu. Barcelona won 3-2 after Sergio Ramos was sent off in the second half. Messi scored his 500th goal for the club in the final minute, giving Barcelona a brief lead in the league standings. Real Madrid ultimately won the title that season by three points.
Source: Al Jazeera
