The rivalry between the two clubs goes beyond football and is deeply linked to Spanish regional tensions. Barcelona are the embodiment of the Catalan region while Real Madrid are the same for Castile region. As such the rivalry has deep undertones for the conflicts in Spanish society as a whole. There is a historical basis as well, under the dictator Francisco Franco many Catalans were subject to persecution whereas Real Madrid, selectively or not, was seen as the favoured club and flagship for the Franco regime.

Both sides regularly compete for the biggest prizes in Spain and Europe and the league games between the two, known as the El Clasico, are watched avidly around the world