El Clásico

El Clásico (in Spanish, also in lowercase letters;^[1] Spanish pronunciation: [el ˈklasiko]) or El Clàssic (in Catalan,^[2] pronounced [əl ˈklasik]), both meaning "The Classic", is the name given to any football match between rival clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid. Originally referring to competitions held in the Spanish championship, the term now includes every match between the clubs, such as those in the UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España. It is considered one of sport's fiercest rivalries, and its matches have a global audience of hundreds of millions.^[3][4][5][6] A fixture known for its intensity, it has featured memorable goal celebrations from both teams, often involving mockery from both sides.^[7]

The fixture carries a large-scale political connotation due to the Catalan independence movement, with the two clubs often identified with opposing political positions; Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain and hence identified with Spanish unionism, while Barcelona is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia and hence identified with Catalan separatism.^[8] They are among the wealthiest and most successful football clubs in the world; in 2024, Forbes ranked Real Madrid and Barcelona among the most valuable football teams in the world, in first and third place respectively.^[9]

Real Madrid leads in head-to-head results in official competitive matches with 105 wins to Barcelona's 104, with 52 draws as of the match played on 11 May 2025.^{[10][11][12][13]} Along with Athletic Bilbao, they are the only clubs in La Liga to have never been relegated.

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