El Clasico to Madrid Derby - Top five biggest rivalries in LaLiga

El Clasico is considered one of the biggest club rivalries in world football…

It is a common notion that the Spanish top division or LaLiga is a two-horse race or a three-horse race since the emergence of Atletico Madrid as a powerhouse along with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last decade.

But the teams who fall in the so-called lower rungs of the league also produce some exciting football.

El Clasico (Barcelona vs Real Madrid) or the Madrid Derby (Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid) are undoubtedly the big-ticket clashes in LaLiga but there are some exciting rivalries and derbies which involve other clubs as well.

What are the top five biggest rivalries in Spain? Let's find out.

El Clasico

We start with the grandest of all. El Clasico is not just big in Spain but it is also considered one of the greatest club rivalries in world football. The first-ever match between Barcelona and Real Madrid took place on May 13, 1902, where the Catalan side clinched the tie 3-1.

The rivalry stems from Madrid and Barcelona being two of the biggest cities in Spain. The two cities are also on opposite political spectrums with Madrid representing Spanish nationalism while Barcelona upholding Catalan sentiments.

Till date, 249 competitive matches have taken place between the two clubs with Real Madrid leading the head-to-head record with 100 wins, three more than Barcelona's 97. 52 matches ended in ties.

Derbi Barceloni

The Barcelona Derby is competed by FC Barcelona and Espanyol the two big clubs in Barcelona, Catalunia. The rivalry stems from and ideological and political standpoints of the two Barcelona clubs. While Barcelona stood by local Catalonian sentiments, Espanyol were more sympathetic and closer to the central Spanish government in Madrid.

The first-ever match between the two clubs happened on April 7, 1929. Barcelona have dominated the derby over the years winning it 125 times out of 214 clashes. Espanyol have won 44 matches and 45 ties ended in draws.

El Viejo Clasico

El Viejo Clasico, literally meaning 'The other Classic', is a rivalry between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. The first-ever match was played on April 8, 1903, in a Copa Del Rey final with Athletic Bilbao winning the tie 3-2.

Bilbao's triumph in the cup final over Real Madrid prompted some students based in Madrid of Basque origin to form an offshoot club of Bilbao in Madrid and named it Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid have the edge when it comes to head-to-head meetings with 120 games out of 240 matches. Bilbao have won on 76 occasions and 44 matches ended in draws.

Madrid Derby

The second biggest match in LaLiga after El Clasico at present is undoubtedly the city rivalry between the two Madrid giants Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

The rivalry started when a few students of Basque origin - inspired by Athletic Bilbao's triumph over Real Madrid in the 1903 Copa del Rey final - decided to start an offshoot club of Bilbao named Atletico Madrid.

Over the years, the rivalry has grown in stature primarily because of the amount of success Real and Atletico have achieved in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Seville Derby

The local derby in the Seville region of Spain is competed between Real Betis and Sevilla. Sevilla FC was formed in 1890 and after a few years, a club named Betis FC was formed as a result of an internal split in Sevilla FC.

In 1914, Betis merged with another local club Sevilla Balompe and a new entity was born named Real Betis Balompie.

The first-ever match between Real Betis and Sevilla was played on October 8, 1915, with Sevilla clinching the tie 4-3. To date, the two clubs have met on 137 occasions with Sevilla winning the tie 65 times. Betis won on 40 occasions and 32 matches ended in draws.