The 5-0 El Clásico Victory 2010

Lore & Background

The two clubs are among the oldest in the country, and have participated in every season of La Liga. Owing to this, as well as contesting numerous finals of the Copa del Rey, it is the most-played football fixture in Spain. The relationship has historically been intense, with periods of fierce competitiveness and hostility. By the turn of the 21st century, the rivalry had become one of the most iconic in world football, with frequent meetings in matches of importance, including Champions League semifinals, Copa del Rey finals, and Supercopa fixtures, restoring and amplifying its global relevancy.

Reader's Guide

Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona are both owned by their socios (members) who elect a president. They place great importance in developing local players through their cantera (youth systems), and were among the last major clubs to adopt a commercial sponsor logo on their jerseys (Athletic doing so in 2008 and Barcelona three years later). These two clubs are the most successful clubs in their respective regions of the Basque Country and Catalonia, both regions who have more support for separatism than other parts of Spain. As a result, these two clubs tend to identify themselves more with regional culture than with Spain as a whole, such as with Athletic's adherence to a unique 'Basque only' player policy and Barcelona's self proclaimed commitment to Catalan independence and identity.

Did You Know?

• The first official meeting between the two clubs was the semifinal of the 1902 Copa de la Coronación, not the final (which was played between Barcelona and Club Biscaya).
• The 2010 El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu was the first time in 36 years that Barcelona had scored five goals away to Real Madrid in La Liga.
• Xavi Hernández provided two assists in this match, cementing his role as the midfield architect of Pep Guardiola's dominant Barcelona side.