The clash between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is one of the biggest games in world football, but here are five things you didn't know about the rivalry.
1) Overall, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have faced each other 229 times in competitive matches. Los Blancos have won 92 of these, the Catalan giants 89 and 48 have ended in draws (only nine 0-0's in history) with an overall goal difference of 389 to 374 for Real.
2) Thirty-three players have played for both Spanish rivals, among them current Barcelona coach Luis Enrique. However, the only player to have scored in El Clasicos for both sides is Brazil legend Ronaldo de Lima.
3) Luis Figo had been a Catalan hero for five years before joining Real Madrid's 'Galacticos' in a big money in 2000. His reception upon eventually returning to the Camp Nou was, to say the least, hostile. Every time he went to take crosses and throw-ins, he was pelted with objects by angry Barca fans, the most notorious being a pig's head that was thrown onto the pitch.
4) During celebrations for Barcelona's 2004/05 La Liga title win, Samuel Eto'o, formerly of Real Madrid, gleefully taunted his old side and its fans. He chanted "Madrid, cabron, saluda al campeon" (Spanish for 'Madrid, bastards, hail the champions') during a speech and many of the 100,000 fans at the Camp Nou also joined in the chorus. While the Cameroon striker later apologised for his harsh language, there was no mistaking the sentiment.
5) Both sides have scored in every El Clasico since 2011, while FC Barcelona is on a 18-match run since last failing to score against their rivals. Real's scoring run started one game later.
What are other things about the Clasico that not many people would know?
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Cheers,
David
