El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid is one of the biggest sporting rivalries in the world, and undoubtedly the biggest in football.
Spain's totemic institutions have forged an intense enmity that is tightly woven into the fabric of society in the country, but also reverberates across the planet.
They are getting set to meet for the final time this season and, while Los Blancos may have the edge historically, the Blaugrana have been to the fore in recent years.
With not long to go, Goal brings you everything you need to know about the 237th competitive Clasico.
When is the next El Clasico?
The next Clasico is scheduled to take place on Sunday May 6, 2018 and the game will be played at Camp Nou.
The game will kick-off at 19:45 BST / 14:45 ET and will be Barcelona's first match since they won the title for the seventh time in 10 seasons.
It is a Liga match and it will be their second meeting in the competition this season following the December encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu, which Barca won 3-0.
Unfortunately for fans and neutrals alike, Barcelona's elimination from the Champions League quarter-finals at the hands of Roma has scuppered the possibility of a Clasico semi-final in April.
Nevertheless, the May meeting is primed to be a cracker - even if there may be little more than pride to play for - with Zinedine Zidane stoking tensions by indicating there will be no pasillo.
Barcelona fixtures before the next El Clasico
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Barcelona will have no further games before the Clasico after wrapping up the title with a 4-2 victory away to Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.
They had already secured one piece of silverware on April 21 by beating Sevilla in the final of the Copa del Rey and their final game ahead of the Clasico was away to Depor as a Lionel Messi hat-trick confirmed Barca as champions.
| Date | Game | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Barcelona vs Real Madrid | La Liga | Camp Nou |
Real Madrid fixtures before the next El Clasico
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Real Madrid have had a more difficult schedule ahead of the Clasico, with a Champions League semi-final tie against Bayern Munich on their agenda before they play Barca.
Los Blancos beat the Bavarians in Germany on April 25 and then returned to Liga action three days later against Leganes, before eliminating their European rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu 4-3 on aggregate.
| Date | Game | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Barcelona vs Real Madrid | La Liga | Camp Nou |
Who has the best Clasico record?
After 236 games, Real Madrid marginally edge Barcelona when it comes to Clasico glory with a total of 95 wins to the Blaugrana's 92.
It is even closer in La Liga, with Madrid winning 72 of the 175 games played, while Barca have been victorious on 70 occasions following their December triumph.
Recent history has shown Barca to be much more successful in games between the sides, particularly in La Liga.
| Competition | Games Played | Madrid wins | Barca wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Liga | 175 | 72 | 70 | 33 |
| Copa del Rey | 33 | 12 | 14 | 7 |
| Champions League | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Other competitions* | 20 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Total | 236 | 95 | 92 | 49 |
'Other competitions' includes the Copa de la Liga and Supercopa de Espana. Pre-season friendly and exhibition matches are not included.