Real Madrid 106, Barcelona 106

Real Madrid and Barcelona have both 106 wins in their official matches against each other. On one side the white empire, on the other the blue-red rebellion. On one side the pride of Madrid, on the other Catalan self-identity. In the middle a football—and around it the story of almost a century. How many nights have passed, how many stars have come and gone, how many times the gallery has burst into joy after goals; yet the story of the fight of Real Madrid and Barcelona seems not to end.

The name of this story is El Clasico

El Clasico does not mean only 90 minutes. It is sometimes empire versus rebellion, sometimes history versus present, sometimes again standing face to face of two football philosophies. And in the history of that long fight now such a moment—where both have equal swords in hand.

Real Madrid 106. Barcelona 106

The calculation is unbelievable yet true. The two teams have faced each other 264 times in official matches. Real’s wins are 106, Barcelona’s also 106. In the remaining 52 matches the settlement of win-loss has not happened. That is, in the rivalry of so many years, in the madness of so many goals, in the light-shadow of so many stars the scale of the number of wins has finally stopped right in the middle.

However if the story is looked at a little carefully separate dominances of the two teams are also found within the equality.

In 192 meetings in La Liga Real’s wins are 80 and Barcelona’s 77. 35 matches have ended in draws. That is, Real is slightly ahead in Spain’s domestic league.

In Copa del Rey again the picture changes differently. In 36 matches Barcelona has won 16, Real 13. In seven matches no one could defeat the other. As if Madrid’s royal sceptre in one competition, the turbulent flag of the Catalans in the other.

There is also intense rivalry of the two teams in the story of the European stage. Facing each other eight times in the Champions League Real’s wins are three, Barcelona’s two; three matches have ended in draws. In 28 matches of Spanish Super Cup and other competitions Barca’s wins are 11, Real’s 10, draws seven.

This rise and fall of the numbers is the beauty of El Clasico. Here no empire is permanent. The joy of one in one era, the revenge of the other in the next era. The one who is ahead today, the breath of the opponent near his neck tomorrow.

Therefore a new chapter of the old story also in the new La Liga season. Real has started with three wins in three matches. Barcelona is also running with two wins in two matches. The fight of the points table will become more intense ahead, but everyone’s eyes will remain on that one match—the first El Clasico of the season. Because that day not only the calculation of three points will happen. Perhaps a number will change in the book of history. From 106 to 107. Who will go ahead? It can also be a draw. The answer is still unknown.

However one truth is clear today—the two rivals are standing side by side again in the long epic of El Clasico. Real Madrid 106. Barcelona 106.

Now the wait is only for the next fight. Because in this duel history never stops—every El Clasico writes history anew.