Sunday match decides who takes lead in 124-year rivalry

Barcelona and Real Madrid enter Sunday's El Clasico with a head-to-head record that has gone unchanged for a century. Both clubs have won 106 meetings since the rivalry began in 1902. A victory for either side on Sunday will end that exact tie and establish the first lead in 124 years of competition.

The fixture has featured some of the most recognizable names in football history. Early matches involved players such as David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane. Later eras saw the rise of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while current squads feature Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr.

The teams have produced dramatic results in recent decades. In 2017, Messi scored the 500th goal of his Barcelona career in a 3-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. That match saw Sergio Ramos sent off for a two-footed lunge on the Argentine striker. James Rodriguez had equalized in the 85th minute, but Messi struck with the final kick of the game.

Another memorable encounter occurred in 2007 at Camp Nou. A 19-year-old Messi scored his first career hat-trick to help Barcelona secure a 3-3 draw. The team finished with 10 men after Ruud van Nistelrooy scored twice for Real Madrid. Ramos added a third goal for the visitors, but Messi equalized in the first minute of stoppage time.

Real Madrid won 4-2 at home in 2005 during the Galacticos era. Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Raul, and Michael Owen all scored for the hosts. Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho found the net for Barcelona, but the visitors still won the league title that season by three points.

The largest margin of victory came in 2009 when Barcelona crushed Real 6-2 at the Bernabeu. Thierry Henry scored twice, while Messi, Carles Puyol, and Gerard Pique added goals. Barcelona won the league that year by nine points, a dominant performance that highlighted the gap between the two sides at that time.

The rivalry also extends to domestic cup competitions. In the 2011 Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid won 1-0 in extra time. Cristiano Ronaldo headed in a pass from Angel Di Maria to break the deadlock. The goal gave Jose Mourinho his first trophy as manager and marked Real Madrid's first domestic cup victory since 1993.