There are few football rivalries that can compare to El Clásico – the famous tie between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona, both powerful entities in European football history and culture in Spain and the world. El Clásico is a politically charged duel; it is rooted in regional pride, footballing preeminence, and global influence, it goes beyond rivalry, and it continues to make headlines around the world.
As of 11 May 2025 there have been a total of 304 matches played between the two sides, including exhibition games and competitive matches. The results of those matches are astonishingly equal and show the many changes in power between two of the most important clubs in the world, aside from the matches and results themselves.
Meetings and Results
Barcelona and Real Madrid have had a total of 304 official and unofficial matches, with Barcelona winning 129 of those matches, Real Madrid winning 111, and there have been 64 draws. Barcelona’s lead is narrow, which shows how competitive the rivalry is.
- Total Matches Played: 304
- Barcelona Wins: 129
- Real Madrid Wins: 111
- Draws: 64
- Barcelona’s Goals: 541
- Real Madrid’s Goals: 496
These numbers show that Barcelona has won more matches and scored more goals than Real Madrid in this series, they have had a slight edge on offensive output over the years. Real Madrid is not far behind those numbers.
El Clásico in La Liga
La Liga, Spain’s premier domestic competition, has experienced the most El Clásico games, a truly remarkable 190 matches since their first meeting in the early 20th century. Real Madrid has won slightly more in league action: Matches: 190
- Real Madrid Wins: 79
- Barcelona Wins: 76
- Draws: 35
- Goals (RMA – BAR): 307 – 309
While Real Madrid wins more matches, Barcelona has scored more goals in La Liga Clásicos, with 309 and 307 respectively, demonstrating again how the rivalry is defined by the finest margins. The home advantage is established with 56 wins at home for Madrid and 52 for Barcelona.
Domestic Cup Competitions
1) Copa del Rey
Barcelona holds the edge in their 38 Copa del Rey meetings with Real Madrid, winning 17 compared to 13 Madrid wins and 8 matches that have ended in a draw.
Goals Scored: Both clubs scored 71 goals so they have been very evenly matched in their cup meetings.
Venue Wins: Both clubs have had varying amounts of success at home, away and at neutral venues. As it stands, both clubs have 4 victories at other venues – mostly being the stages for cup finals.
2) Copa de la Liga
The Copa de la Liga was once an official competition in Spanish football, but is now lesser-known. During its existence, there were six El Clásico matches held in the Copa de la Liga. Barcelona had complete domination over the games, winning 2 matches while the other 4 ended in draws. Real Madrid never recorded a win in the Copa de la Liga against Barcelona.
Goals (RMA – BAR): 8 – 13
Barcelona were able to outscore and outplay Real Madrid in their limited amount of matches played in this brief tournament.
3) Supercopa de España
El Clásico has been regularly prevalent in Spain’s Supercopa de España, a tournament that usually now opens the Spanish football season. Out of the 18 meetings, Real Madrid has 10 wins, Barcelona has 6 wins, and two matches have been drawn.
Goals (RMA – BAR): 40 – 29
Real Madrid entered the latest few Supercopa match-ups with a common style in terms of how clinical their counter-attacking strategy is in comparison to Barcelona’s possession football. In the latest few encounters it has also appeared like Real Madrid were favored by external forces to win over Barcelona.
UEFA Champions League
Matches on the continental stage tend to occur less frequently and are of a monumental status. Out of eight meetings, Real Madrid has 3 wins against Barcelona’s 2 wins, both teams have had 3 drawn matches.
Goals (RMA – BAR): 13 – 10
In particular, both teams have won and drawn matches at both locations, indicating both teams can improve their level of performance under international pressure.
Exhibitions Matches
Even if less important than official competitions, exhibition matches (like friendlies and pre-season) add to the spectacle. Barcelona have won 25 of the 43 matches played, while Real Madrid have won a mere 6 – with 12 total draws.
Goals (RMA – BAR): 56 – 106
These matches have typically occurred abroad and in front of international supporters, and displayed Barcelona’s attacking finesse, which has often crushed Madrid (in the last decade).
Location Impact to El Clásico
The venue of El Clásico can be very influential in laying out how the match might play out. The following charts show where each club has won or lost depending on the venue:
Home Wins:
- Real Madrid: 72
- Barcelona: 77
Away Wins:
- Real Madrid: 31
- Barcelona: 38
Neutral/Other Venues:
- Real Madrid: 8
- Barcelona: 14
Overall, Barcelona has outperformed Madrid in the away matches and neutral venues, which account for pressure in direct eliminations, finals, and international showcases.
Goals Summary
All matches:
- Barcelona Goals: 541
- Real Madrid Goals: 496
Barcelona’s 45 goal lead largely shows a slight edge in attacking quality in spurts, despite relatively equal victories in that time period. These goals are also contributed by times where Barcelona has had golden generations (like the Guardiola-era with Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta) that have often overwhelmed Madrid’s defense.
Significant Oddities and “Historical” Matches
One of the more unusual matches counted as a statistical record and not officially recognized by the Royal Spanish Football Federation is the Copa de la Coronación, an early precursor to the Copa del Rey. Barcelona won that singular match 3 – 1.
It’s also worth noting that the 1968 Copa del Generalísimo final, which was played at the Santiago Bernabéu but was officially designated as neutral, is omitted from the regular home/away statistics. Barcelona won that final.
Conclusion
El Clásico, or the rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona, is not just a match; it’s a representation of two philosophies: Madrid’s “galáctico” glamour and dominance of Europe as opposed to Barcelona’s tiki-taka and La Masia youth development tradition.
As of May 2025, the rivalry is still alive and well.
Barcelona leads the all-time head-to-head results in total wins and goals scored.
Real Madrid leads the all-time head-to-head results in La Liga wins and is still the most decorated club in UEFA Champions League history.
Overall goal differences, performance at the venue, and results mean that this is still one of the closest rivalries in football history.
More of the El Clásico story is still being told. New generations and stars are coming through and the legends of the past retire, and every time the two clubs meet new chapters are added to the story of football. Fans of the sport all over the world can only wait with anticipation for the next clash – because in El Clásico, history is always 90 minutes away.
Mjust Read:
