El Clasico: Sunday's match decides 124-year win tie

Barcelona hosts Real Madrid at Camp Nou on Sunday for a La Liga match that will break a 124-year deadlock. Both clubs have won exactly 106 El Clasico games since the rivalry began in 1902. A victory for either side establishes a permanent lead in the all-time head-to-head record.

The upcoming fixture features current stars Lamine Yamal and Raphinha for Barcelona. Real Madrid fields Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr. The match continues a tradition of showcasing global talents, including past legends like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Zinedine Zidane.

Historical context for the tie includes a 3-2 Barcelona victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 23, 2017. Messi scored his 500th career goal for the club in the final kick of that game. The result briefly placed Barcelona atop the league table, though Real Madrid won the title by three points.

Another defining moment occurred on March 10, 2007, when Barcelona drew 3-3 at home. A 19-year-old Messi scored his first career hat-trick to save the game for a 10-man side. Real Madrid won that La Liga season on head-to-head record despite both teams finishing on 76 points.

Real Madrid dominated the 2005-06 era with a 4-2 home win on April 10, 2005. The match featured the Galacticos squad, with Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, Raul, and Michael Owen scoring. Barcelona won the league that season by three points.

The highest-scoring recent encounter was a 6-2 Barcelona win at the Bernabeu on May 2, 2009. Thierry Henry and Messi starred in a performance that helped secure a nine-point league title margin. The rivalry also includes a 1-0 Real Madrid win in the 2011 Copa del Rey final, decided by a Cristiano Ronaldo header in extra time.