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There are a few El Clasico records that could fall when Barcelona host Real Madrid on Sunday.
El Clasico is upon us yet again. The game that holds all of Spain spellbound, with two of the best teams in the land slugging it out for bragging rights in the country’s most intriguing fixture.
This fixture has seen many great names who have done near-unbelievable things setting records and milestones that seemed unreachable when they first happened.
While it will take a some time before anybody reaches Messi’s 26 goals in El Clasico or Cristiano Ronaldo’s 7 consecutive fixtures scored in, there are a few records within reach that might fall as early as Sunday.
Most appearances in El Clasico: Current Holder — Sergio Busquets (46 matches)
In the Copa del Rey semi final first leg between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Sergio Busquets made El Clasico history just by playing, as he surpassed both Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos to stand alone as the player with the most appearances in this fixture.
He has now played 46 matches in El Clasico since his first in December 2008 and could be in line for his 47th on Sunday, which will see him break his own record.
Most wins in El Clasico: Current Holder — Sergio Busquets (22 wins)
In addition to breaking the record for the most appearances in the fixture, Busquets' participation in Barcelona’s 1-0 Copa del Rey semifinal first-leg win over Real Madrid also saw him become the player with the most wins in El Clasico history as he came away with his 22nd victory in the fixture.
He has the chance to go for number 23 when Barcelona host Real Madrid on Sunday, and the teams’ recent form means that it is a strong possibility that he will get it.
Most clean sheets in El Clasico: Current Holder — Victor Valdes (7 clean sheets)
This might come as a surprise to many people given Valdes’ reputation as a playful funny-man between the sticks, but the ex-Barcelona man actually holds the record for the most clean sheets in El Clasico history, in addition to having the joint-most Zamora trophies in LaLiga history.
Valdes kept seven clean sheets in this fixture, one more than his counterpart Iker Casillas, and also one more than Barcelona’s current goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen.
With six clean sheets in El Clasico already, ter Stegen can match Valdes’ record on Sunday if he does not concede a goal. A feat he has managed 19 times already in 25 La Liga games.
Oldest goalscorer in El Clasico: Current Holder — Alfredo Di Stefano (37yrs 164 days)
Arguably Real Madrid’s biggest-ever legend, Alfredo Di Stefano left a mark on El Clasico that has lasted nearly 60 years.
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Di Stefano scored his final goal in El Clasico on the 15th of December 1963 aged 37 years and 164 days, making him the oldest player to score in the fixture.
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After a long wait, that record is finally under threat thanks to another Real Madrid legend, Luka Modric who will be 37 years and 191 days old when El Clasico is played on Sunday.
All Modric needs to do is score against Barcelona and he will enter the history books, breaking Di Stefano’s record and becoming the oldest player to score in El Clasico history.
Fastest goal in El Clasico: Current Holder — Karim Benzema (21 seconds)
Real Madrid captain Karim Benzema is another veteran of this fixture having appeared in 42 El Clasicos over the course of his Los Blancos career.
One of Benzema’s landmark moments in El Clasico is his first ever goal in the fixture, which came after just 21 seconds at Bernabeu in the 2011/12 LaLiga season.
Although Real Madrid eventually lost that game 3-1, Benzema’s exploits that day still put his name in the history books.
Benzema, or indeed any of the 21 other starters in Sunday’s clasico can become the quickest El Clasico goal scorer if they just score within the first 20 seconds of the game. Easy peasy.
Most losses in El Clasico: Current Holder — Sergio Ramos (20 losses)
Sergio Ramos played several seasons against several peaks of Barcelona, including the Ronaldinho era, the Pep Guardiola era, and the Valverde era where the Blaugrana dominated this fixture, so it is no surprise that he picked up a few defeats along the way.
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The former Real Madrid captain currently holds the record for the most defeats in El Clasico with 20 losses, but could soon be joined by the team’s current captain.
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Benzema is already in El Clasico history books for scoring the fastest goal in the fixture and scoring in the joint-most unique stadiums where this fixture has been played, but could have his name etched beside a less favourable record if Real Madrid lose on Sunday.
Benzema has lost to Barcelona 19 times already as a Real Madrid player, and could join Ramos in having the most unwanted record with one more loss.
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