On Sunday, April 21st, the iconic ‘El Clásico’ will once again be played between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. The two teams will compete for points in La Liga. Real Madrid will aim to maintain their lead, but Barcelona will eagerly seek to close the gap.
El Clásico
‘The Classic’ is the term used for the matches between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. These are the two biggest and most successful football clubs ever. The matches are also considered the greatest football classics in Spain and even worldwide. The match can also be seen as a political battle between Catalonia’s Barcelona and Madrid of the central Spanish government, which adds extra tension for many fans.
The first ‘El Clásico’ was played on May 13, 1902. Barcelona won this home match 3-1. Since then, the teams have played a total of 296 matches, 254 of which were in official competitions. The last meeting was on October 28, 2023, when Real Madrid won 1-2 at Camp Nou. The top scorer in all these matches is Lionel Messi, who scored 26 times against Real Madrid.
Real Madrid
As one of the two clubs from the Spanish capital, Real Madrid is also one of the best teams in the world. The club was founded on March 6, 1902, and plays its home matches at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Real Madrid traditionally plays in white, with their away colors being all black or all purple. They have won the Primera Division 35 times, the Copa del Rey 20 times, and the Champions League 14 times, making them the record holder for the latter, ahead of the Italian AC Milan, which won 7 times. Real Madrid was named the best football club of the 20th century by FIFA.
This year, Real Madrid is leading the league, although they faced strong competition from Barcelona and Girona for a long time. With 7 matchdays remaining, the title seems within reach, but their 8-point lead over FC Barcelona is not yet secure. This weekend’s direct clash should provide more clarity. In their previous match, Real Madrid narrowly defeated Mallorca 0-1. The Royal Club will also play against Manchester City on Wednesday, April 17.
Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti can field a team of world-class players, including Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Other players include Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric. The two top scorers are Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, with 16 and 12 goals, respectively. Youngster Bellingham also ranks second in the overall top scorers list. Brazilian Rodrygo has already scored 10 goals this season.
FC Barcelona
The Catalan powerhouse is one of the most successful clubs in the world. Their stadium is the Spotify Camp Nou, also the largest stadium in Europe. The club was founded on November 29, 1899, and their colors are blue and garnet. Throughout their history, they have won the Spanish Primera Division 27 times and the Copa del Rey 31 times. They have also won the Champions League 5 times and the FIFA Club World Cup 3 times. Barcelona was voted the best team in the world by the IFFHS for three consecutive decades from 1991 to 2020 and tops the FIFA list.
Currently, Barcelona trails Real Madrid with 70 points compared to 78. Therefore, they will need to quickly accumulate more points as there are only 7 matchdays left. This weekend’s match is crucial for Barcelona as a direct duel can also be mentally challenging. Barcelona will play against PSG in the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday, April 16.
FC Barcelona is led by former player Xavi Hernandez. He announced this week that he would like to leave the club on June 30, against the wishes of the club management. Until then, he will guide Barcelona through La Liga and the Champions League, alongside star players Sergi Roberto, Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong, and Gavi. The top scorer for Barcelona this season is Robert Lewandowski.
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