The reason for the rivalry of Real Madrid vs Barcelona is due to the political background which starts from the late 1930s. Here is a timeline throwback.

• 1930
  • In contrast to the centralizing tendencies of Madrid, Barcelona has cultivated a reputation as a symbol of Catalonian identity.

• 1936 – 1975
  • Francisco Franco initiated a coup against the democratic Second Spanish Republic, capturing Barcelona’s president, Josep Sunyol, a member of the Republican Left of Catalonia and deputy in The Courts. Sunyol was apprehended by Franco’s soldiers without any trial and subsequently killed.
  • During the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera and especially Francisco Franco, strict restrictions were imposed on all regional languages and identities in Spain.
  • As a result, the majority of Barcelona’s citizens were staunchly opposed to the fascist rule. During this period, Barcelona earned its reputation for being in strong opposition to the authoritarian regime, not only due to its Catalonian nationalist sentiments but also for its adherence to progressive ideals. The club FC Barcelona, known for its association with Catalonian nationalism, became a symbol of resistance during these challenging times.
  • During the early years of Franco’s regime, Real Madrid was not particularly successful. They won two Copa del Generalísimo titles and one Copa Eva Duarte, while Barcelona secured three league titles, one Copa del Generalísimo, and one Copa Eva Duarte. At that time, Atlético Aviación was considered a favorite team over Real Madrid.
  • One of the most controversial stories of this period is Real Madrid’s 11-1 home victory against Barcelona in the Copa del Generalísimo, where the Catalonian team accused Real Madrid of intimidating tactics. Despite reaching a settlement with Barcelona, Alfredo Di Stéfano’s controversial transfer to Real Madrid became a significant point of contention during this era.

• 1950s Consecutive Swipe
  • The first true competition for the best club teams in Europe. Their dream came true when Real Madrid not only started a streak of consecutive league titles but also clinched victory in the first five editions of the European Cup in the 1950s.

• 1975 Francos death
  • In 1975, Franco’s death marked a turning point in Spain towards democracy. Under his regime, Real Madrid had achieved remarkable success, winning 14 league titles, 6 Copa del Generalísimo titles, 1 Copa Eva Duarte, 6 European Cups, 2 Latin Cups, and 1 Intercontinental Cup.
  • During the same period, Barcelona secured 8 league titles, 9 Copa del Generalísimo titles, 3 Copa Eva Duarte titles, 3 Inter-Cities Fairs Cups, and 2 Latin Cups.

• 1980s – Next Level
  • In 1980, Ultra Sur, known for their far-right affiliations, was established as a Real Madrid ultra group. Subsequently, in 1981, beginning with left-leaning and later centrist ideologies, Barcelona Ultras group Boixos Nois was formed.
  • Both groups became notorious for their violent actions, with the Casuals, a faction within the Barcelona supporters, emerging as one of the most combative factions among Barcelona fans.

1943 Real Madrid vs Barcelona Controversial Semifinal Match

The controversial football match of Real Madrid vs Barcelona on June 13, 1943, in the Copa del Generalísimo semi-finals. Real Madrid won 11–1 after losing the first leg 3–0 in Catalonia. The match was marred by complaints about the referee, allegations of rough tactics, and hostile incidents.

Barcelona fans were banned from traveling to Madrid, and the atmosphere was tense. Real Madrid went 2–0 up within half an hour and eventually won 11–1. The match became a symbol of political tensions, with Madrid seen as representing the dictatorship and Barcelona as its victims.

The clubs were fined, and Barcelona’s coach resigned in protest. The historic 11–1 result is more celebrated in Barcelona’s history than in Madrid’s.

1960 Clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid

On July 11, 1968, Barcelona secured a 1-0 victory against Real Madrid in the Copa del Generalísimo final at Santiago Bernabéu. The match ended in controversy as disgruntled Real Madrid fans threw bottles at the referee and Barcelona players in the final minutes.

Referee Antonio Rigo faced allegations of favoring Barcelona, especially regarding two not-awarded penalties. Rigo claimed he did not see a penalty on Amancio and accused Serena of attempting to deceive him by diving.

He also accused the Real Madrid manager of trying to bribe him with a pre-match gift. Despite the tumultuous end, General Franco presented the trophy to Barcelona in a ceremony marred by a pitch filled with bottles, leading to the name “The Bottle Final.”

Rivalries between players

László Kubala and Alfredo Di Stéfano (1953–1961)

Before the 1950s, Real Madrid didn’t have much success in Spanish football, winning just two league titles from 1929 to 1953. However, everything changed with the arrival of key players like Alfredo Di Stéfano, Paco Gento, Raymond Kopa, and Ferenc Puskás. This transformed Real Madrid into a powerhouse in Spain and Europe. Meanwhile, Barcelona had notable players like László Kubala and Luis Suárez.

The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona started to take shape, fueled by the clashes between Di Stéfano and Kubala. During this period, they faced each other 26 times in various tournaments, with Real winning 13 matches, Barcelona winning 10, and 3 ending in draws. Di Stéfano scored 14 goals, and Kubala scored 4 in these encounters. This marked the beginning of what would later become the intense rivalry of El Clásico.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi (2009–2018)

The Messi-Ronaldo rivalry from 2009 to 2018 in El Clásico was the most competitive phase in its history. Both players set numerous records for Real Madrid and Barcelona, taking turns as top scorers in La Liga and the Champions League.

Over nine years in Spain, they scored a total of 922 goals, with 38 in El Clásico—Messi 20, Ronaldo 18. As of 2024, Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, and Messi holds the La Liga goal record. Their rivalry contributed to their clubs winning six Champions League titles in nine seasons.

In El Clásico, Messi’s 26 goals set a record, and Ronaldo’s 18 are joint-second in history. The rivalry extended to the clubs’ attacking trios, “BBC” and “MSN.” Ronaldo left Real Madrid in 2018, and the 2018–19 La Liga Clásico without both players marked a significant shift, seen by some as the ‘end of an era,’ with Barcelona winning 5–1.

Head to Head : Barcelona and Real Madrid Till date