2014 La Liga Title Decider vs Barcelona

Lore & Background

The club was formed in 1902 as Madrid Football Club, and played its first competitive match on 13 May 1902, in the Copa de la Coronación semi-final. Real Madrid currently plays in the Spanish top-tier La Liga, having become one of the founding members of that league in 1929, and is one of three clubs, the others being Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao, to have never been relegated from the league.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Bernabéu was thick enough to choke on, a surreal mix of Real Madrid's neutral ground and Atletico's dream. When Godín rose in the box, time seemed to suspend itself; the ball arced through the floodlights, a white sphere against the darkening Madrid sky, before crashing into the net. A roar erupted from the blue and red section that drowned out the stadium's usual hum. In the tunnel, players hugged, tears mixing with sweat, while on the pitch, Diego Simeone stood frozen, his hands gripping the dugout railing, watching his men defend a one-goal lead against the greatest team in the world. It was not just a draw; it was a coronation.

Reader's Guide

The club currently holds the record for the most European Cup / UEFA Champions League triumphs, with 15, and the most La Liga titles, with 36. Additionally, Real has won the Copa del Rey 20 times, the Supercopa de España 13 times, the Copa de la Liga once, the Copa Eva Duarte once, the UEFA Cup twice, the European/UEFA Super Cup six times, the Intercontinental Cup three times, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup one time, the FIFA Club World Cup five times, the Latin Cup twice and Copa Iberoamericana once.

Did You Know?

• The club's record appearance maker is Raúl, who made 741 appearances from 1994 to 2010.
• The club's record goalscorer is Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 450 goals in 438 appearances through all competitions from 2009 to 2018.
• Real Madrid have a distinction of being the most successful club in terms of international titles, having amassed 35 pieces of silverware, more than any other team in the world.