El Clásico Historic Rivalry

Lore & Background

Their first meeting occurred in the final of the first edition of the Copa del Rey, played on 8 April 1903; Athletic won 3–2. That match has been identified as a catalyst for the establishment a few weeks later of what would eventually become Club Atlético de Madrid. The Basques and Castilians met in nine Cup finals between 1903 and 1958; Athletic won six of these matches. On 21 April 1929, they met for the first time in La Liga; Real Madrid won 5–1. The 1929 Copa del Rey semi-final second leg became known as the 'frog match'. In the Franco era, the caudillo used the success of Real Madrid as a vehicle to promote the Spanish State, whereas Athletic Bilbao still managed to win multiple Copa del Rey and league titles between 1939 and 1975. On the field, a competitive edge was briefly restored in the early 1980s when Athletic won the league twice, finishing ahead of Real Madrid by one point in 1983 and by a single goal in 1984. In the 21st century, despite disparities in stature, the fixtures remain keenly fought. A 2002 fixture saw the pitch invaded by Basque nationalist activists. At the end of the 2002–03 season, a 3–1 victory for Real Madrid over Athletic won them the Spanish title for the 29th time. In April 2011, Real Madrid registered a 3–0 away win, and in May 2012 they achieved the same result to clinch their 32nd title in Bilbao. The clubs' first meeting in the Supercopa de España was in 2020–21, when Athletic defeated Real Madrid in the semi-final. The outcome was reversed the following season, as Madrid won the 2022 final 2–0.

In Their Own Story

The floodlights hummed over the packed stands of the Santiago Bernabéu, the air thick with eighty thousand voices screaming into the void. The scoreboard read 2-1 for the visitors, time bleeding away against the hosts. Deep in the tunnel, a veteran captain tightened his grip on the armband, the white fabric stark against the dim light. He knew this wasn't about the trophies gathering dust in the cabinet; it was about the silence that would follow if they lost tonight. As the referee's whistle sliced through the tension to restart play, Madrid erupted—a wall of sound demanding victory in the match that defines a year, a decade, and often, an era.

Reader's Guide

As of 23 May 2026, Athletic Bilbao has 20 higher finishes in La Liga, Real Madrid has 75 higher finishes. Notable highest scoring games include Real Madrid 3–6 Athletic Bilbao (January 1947, La Liga) and Real Madrid 8–1 Athletic Bilbao (June 1960, Copa del Generalísimo semi-final). Biggest wins include Real Madrid 8–1 Athletic Bilbao (7-goal margin) and Real Madrid 0–6 Athletic Bilbao (January 1931, La Liga). Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid's top goalscorer in the fixture, having overtaken Raúl's tally of 15 in 2016. Both Ronaldo and Athletic's Zarra have 17 league goals in the fixture, but Zarra is still some way ahead overall with 24.

Did You Know?

• The first meeting between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid was the 1903 Copa del Rey final, which Athletic won 3–2.
• The 1929 Copa del Rey semi-final second leg is known as the 'frog match' due to toys distributed to distract the visitors.
• Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid met in nine Cup finals between 1903 and 1958; Athletic won six.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid's top goalscorer in the fixture, with 17 league goals (tied with Zarra) and 24 overall (behind Zarra).
• The 2022 Supercopa de España final was the first time the two teams met to directly compete for a trophy since the 1958 Copa del Generalísimo Final.