Real Madrid and Barcelona are two of the biggest football clubs in the world, and their rivalry is one of the fiercest and most famous in sports. Here are some facts about their history and rivalry:


El Clasico: The name "El Clasico" refers to any match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, but it is often used specifically to refer to the La Liga games between the two teams. The first official El Clasico took place on February 17, 1929, and ended in a 2-1 victory for Barcelona.


Head-to-head: Real Madrid and Barcelona have played each other a total of 246 times in official matches, with Real Madrid winning 99, Barcelona winning 96, and 51 matches ending in a draw. Real Madrid has also scored more goals than Barcelona in the head-to-head, with 407 goals compared to Barcelona's 387.


La Liga: Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two most successful teams in the history of La Liga, Spain's top professional football league. As of the 2021-22 season, Real Madrid has won the league title 34 times, while Barcelona has won it 26 times.


European dominance: Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are also among the most successful teams in European club football. Real Madrid has won the UEFA Champions League (formerly the European Cup) a record 13 times, while Barcelona has won it 5 times.


Player rivalries: Over the years, there have been many memorable individual rivalries between players from Real Madrid and Barcelona. Perhaps the most famous is the rivalry between Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), who competed for the title of the world's best player for many years before Ronaldo left Real Madrid for Juventus in 2018.


Political undertones: The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona has also had political overtones. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia, a region of Spain that has a distinct language and culture, and many Catalans see their football club as a symbol of Catalan identity and autonomy. In contrast, Real Madrid is seen as representing the Spanish capital and the country as a whole.


Fans and stadiums: Real Madrid's home stadium is the Santiago Bernabeu, which has a capacity of over 81,000 spectators. Barcelona's home stadium is the Camp Nou, which has a capacity of over 99,000 spectators. Both clubs have huge fan bases, with millions of supporters around the world.


Transfer battles: Real Madrid and Barcelona have often competed for the world's top players in the transfer market. In recent years, both clubs have spent huge sums of money on players like Neymar (who moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain) and Eden Hazard (who moved from Chelsea to Real Madrid).


Cultural impact: The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona has had a significant impact on Spanish and international culture. The matches between the two teams are some of the most watched sporting events in the world, and have inspired countless books, films, and documentaries.