Barcelona, Real Madrid Locked at 106 Wins Each Before Sunday Clash
The sides have split 106 league victories apiece since their rivalry began in 1902, and Sunday's winner pulls ahead in the standings.
By Samir Lin ·
Barcelona and Real Madrid each own 106 wins against one another heading into their meeting at Camp Nou on Sunday, a fixture that dates to 1902 and has drawn millions of viewers worldwide. Three points would hand the victor the first lead in the rivalry's history.
The clubs first met in 1902, and past editions have featured Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo alongside Neymar Jr, Luis Suarez, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane. Current squads put Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in Barcelona's attack, while Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr lead Real's.
Several previous meetings turned on late goals. On April 23, 2017, Messi scored his 500th Barcelona goal in the final kick of a 3-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu after James Rodriguez had equalized for Real in the 85th minute. Real's Sergio Ramos had been sent off for a two-footed lunge on Messi, and Barcelona briefly moved top of La Liga before Real finished three points ahead.
Messi also rescued a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou on March 10, 2007, completing the first hat-trick of his career at age 19 with an equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time. Barcelona had been reduced to 10 men, and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice for Real. Both clubs ended the season on 76 points, with Real taking the title on head-to-head record.
Real's Galacticos side won 4-2 at home on April 10, 2005, with goals from Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Raul and Michael Owen. Barcelona answered through Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho but still claimed the league by three points. On May 2, 2009, Barcelona ran out 6-2 winners at the Bernabeu, scoring five times after Gonzalo Higuain put Real ahead in the 14th minute; Messi, Thierry Henry, Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique found the net.
The Copa del Rey final on April 20, 2011, went to extra time after 90 scoreless minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo headed in Angel Di Maria's pass to win it 1-0 for Real, whose manager was Jose Mourinho. The victory secured the club's first domestic cup since 1993.
Di Maria was sent off on a second yellow card after the goal, and Real held on.
Source: Al Jazeera
