Real Madrid vs Barcelona history: Head to head and finals of El Clasico matches
Matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona are always the biggest dates on the Spanish football calendar, with the two biggest clubs in La Liga having hosted some memorable competitions over the years.
After two encounters already in 2022/23 in La Liga and the Spanish Supercopa, Barcelona and Madrid face each other in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Even if the legendary duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer performed, the clash still features some of the biggest names in world football.
The two clubs have met in 252 competitive matches, with Real Madrid winning 101, Barcelona 99 and the teams sharing the loot 52 times. Former Barca star Messi is the all-time top scorer in El Clasico history and the Argentinian grandmaster is tied in appearances with Sergio Ramos and Sergio Busquets (45), with the latter set to break the record this season.
WATCH: Real Madrid vs Barcelona on ESPN+
El Clasico head-to-head record
Here we take a look at all the footage from this classic encounter between the two Spanish giants.
Carlo Ancelotti against Xavi head to head
Xavi battles Ancelotti in the dugout after his return to Barcelona in 2021, with Ancelotti making his own La Liga comeback in the same year.
As a player, Xavi faced Ancelotti teams three times in his early career as the lynchpin of Barcelona’s midfield against AC Milan. They met again when Ancelotti joined Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
Xavi lost just one of his four La Liga clashes with Ancelotti during the Italian’s first spell at Madrid in 2013-15, but he found himself on the losing side in the 2014 Copa del Rey final – the last time Los Blancos lifted the trophy.
It capped a La Liga win each when they made their debut as rival managers in 2021/22, but Ancelotti sealed the title. Madrid beat Barca in the Supercopa de Espana final last season, but Xavi turned the tables in the 2023 final.
Who has won the most El Clasico games – Real Madrid or Barcelona?
| Competition | matches | Real Madrid wins | Barcelona wins | draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| league | 185 | 77 | 73 | 35 |
| Copa del Rey | 36 | 12 | 16 | 8th |
| Copa de la Liga | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Supercopa de Espana | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Copa de la Coronation | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Champions League | 8th | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| In total | 252 | 101 | 99 | 52 |
Who are the top scorers in El Clasico?
| player | Association | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 26 |
| Alfredo di Stefano | real Madrid | 18 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | real Madrid | 18 |
| Raul Gonzalez | real Madrid | 15 |
| Cesar Rodriguez | Barcelona | 14 |
| Francisco Gento | real Madrid | 14 |
| Ferenc Puskas | real Madrid | 14 |
Who are the most-appeared players in El Clasico?
| player | Association | appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Sergio Busquets | Barcelona | 46 |
| Lionel Messi | Barcelona | 45 |
| Sergei Ramos | real Madrid | 45 |
| Francisco Gento | real Madrid | 42 |
| Manuel Sanchis | real Madrid | 42 |
| Xavi Hernandez | Barcelona | 42 |
What are the biggest wins in El Clasico history?
| Date | Fit | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| June 19, 1943 | Real Madrid 11-1 Barcelona | Copa del Rey |
| February 3, 1935 | Real Madrid 8-2 Barcelona | league |
| September 24, 1950 | Barcelona 7-2 Real Madrid | league |
| May 19, 1957 | Barcelona 6-1 Real Madrid | Copa del Rey |
| September 18, 1949 | Real Madrid 6-1 Barcelona | league |
Which players have scored the most hat-tricks in El Clasico?
| player | Association | Number of hat tricks |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago Bernabeu | real Madrid | 2 (both 1916 Copa del Rey) |
| Jaime Lazcano | real Madrid | 2 (La Liga 1929/30 & La Liga 1934/35) |
| Ferenc Puskas | real Madrid | 2 (La Liga 1962/63 & La Liga 1963/64) |
| Lionel Messi | Barcelona FC | 2 (La Liga 2006/07 & La Liga 2013/14) |