Barcelona hosts Real Madrid to break 106-win tie

Barcelona will host Real Madrid on Sunday for the next chapter of the El Clasico rivalry. The two clubs are currently tied with 106 wins each. A victory for either side on Sunday would end that deadlock and give the winner the historical edge.

The fixture dates back to 1902. It has featured players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and Zinedine Zidane. Current squads include Lamine Yamal and Raphinha for Barcelona, while Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. represent Real Madrid.

History shows this matchup often produces high-scoring affairs. On May 2, 2009, Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 6-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu. Thierry Henry scored twice in that game. Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring for the visitors, but the home side dominated the rest of the match.

Another memorable encounter occurred on April 23, 2017. Barcelona won 3-2 at the Bernabeu. Lionel Messi scored the winning goal in the final minute of play. It was his 500th goal for the club. Sergio Ramos received a red card during that match after a lunge on Messi.

Real Madrid secured a 4-2 victory at home on April 10, 2005. Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario and Raul scored early goals for the hosts. Michael Owen added a fourth in the 65th minute. Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho provided the consolation goals for Barcelona.

In 2007, the teams drew 3-3 at Camp Nou. A 19-year-old Messi recorded his first hat-trick in that game. He scored the equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time. The match ended with Barcelona down to 10 men, yet they managed to salvage a point.

The most recent trophy in this rivalry came on April 20, 2011. Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey final 1-0 in extra time. Cristiano Ronaldo headed in a pass from Angel Di Maria to secure the win. It was the club's first domestic cup since 1993.