The first El Clásico of 2023 is here. Ten highlights to get you in the mood for the game

The first El Clásico of 2023 is here. Real Madrid and Barcelona will face off in the Spanish Super Cup final for the first trophy of the season. Let’s take a look at ten interesting facts about this match.

1. First goal = no loss

It sounds simple, but in El Clásico this has been the rule in recent years. Whoever scores the first goal doesn’t lose the match. In the last 16 games, Real Madrid has scored the first goal 9 times, won eight times and drawn once.

Barcelona have taken the lead in six matches, won five times and drawn once. One was a goalless draw. The last game turned around dates back to April 2017.

2. The first duels

The first ever league El Clásico was played on 17 February 1929. Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1. However, the first meeting between these rivals came in 1902, when Barcelona won 3: 1. Real Madrid have scored 404 goals in their matches so far, Barcelona 384.

3. Scorers for both rivals

You can find only four footballers who have scored in El Clásico for both Real Madrid and Barcelona. They are Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, Luis Enrique and José Samitier. However, there are many more players who have played for both teams.

4. Most starts

Sergio Ramos has made the most starts in El Clásico with 45 appearances. The other Lionel Messi has experienced the atmosphere of the biggest match in the world 44 times. Ramos is also the most frequently cautioned player in these duels, receiving 19 yellow cards and 5 red cards.

5. El Clásico record

Real Madrid and Barcelona have played 249 competitive matches. The balance is very even, Real Madrid have won 100 matches, Barcelona 97 and there have been 52 draws. The most frequent result is 2:1 for Real Madrid (19 times), followed by a 1:1 draw (16 times) and 1:0 for Barcelona (13 times).

6. The youngest non-Spanish goalscorer

In March 2020, Real’s striker Vinícius Junior became the youngest foreign goal scorer in El Clásico history. He was 19 years and 230 days old when the team won 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu.

7. H2H last games

Real Madrid has the upper hand in their last 10 games against each other. Los Blancos have won six duels, Barcelona have won three, with one draw.

8. El Clásico’s top scorers

Karim Benzema is the only active Real or Barcelona player to have scored 10 or more goals in El Clásico. Only 11 past players can boast the same record. Juanito, Hugo Sánchez (RM, 10), Luis Suárez (Bar, 11), Santillana (RM, 12), Ferenc Puskás, Paco Gento (RM, 14) César (Bar, 14), Raúl (RM, 15), Cristiano Ronaldo, Alfredo di Stéfano (RM, 18) and Lionel Messi (Bar, 26).

9. A generation older centre

If both teams deploy the expected midfield – Kroos (33), Valverde (24) and Modric (37)/ Pedri (20), Gavi (18) and De Jong (25) – Real Madrid will have a midfield 31 years older. Real’s total of midfielders is 94, Barcelona’s side only 63.

10. Looting on the outdoor pitch

Real Madrid managed to win El Clásico on 27 occasions on Barcelona’s pitch. Barcelona has plundered the capital in 26 matches.

Source: Real Madrid, La Liga