Have Barcelona and Real Madrid ever been relegated from La Liga?

Barcelona and Real Madrid are the twin titans of Spanish football, two sporting institutions whose bitter rivalry reverberates across the world every season in their eternal El Clasico tussle.

Between them, they have won over 50 top-flight titles in La Liga, countless domestic cups and are frequently among the final runners in the fight for European supremacy each year.

Even as they have wobbled on occasion - such as last year, when Los Blancos failed to find silverware and the Blaugrana struggled below their usual standards - they have always bounced back.

Success is second nature to them, but that said, even the biggest teams have endured peaks and troughs over the course of time.

So, have Barca and Madrid ever experienced relegation? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

Have Barcelona and Real Madrid ever been relegated from La Liga?

No. Barcelona and Real Madrid have never been relegated from La Liga, in the near-century history of the competition.

The Clasico rivals have been permanent fixtures in the top-flight, having been founding members all the way back in 1929.

They are two of just three teams to have not suffered relegation from Spain's Primera Division since its inception, with Athletic Club the only other side to have matched their feat.

The three sides were among the 10 original founding members of the league, which also included Real Sociedad, Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Europa, Racing Santander, Getxo and Real Union.

Atletico follow Barca and Madrid as the third-most successful club in the country in terms of league titles and they have been a fixture of La Liga for most of its history.

However, the Rojiblancos were relegated in the league's second season in 1929-30.

They returned to the Primera Division in 1939-40 after the Spanish Civil War (winning the first two editions after the conflict) and remained there until the year 2000, when they were relegated for the second time.

They were promoted again after just two terms in the Segunda and have been part of the top division since, winning their most recent championship last term under Diego Simeone.

Valencia are another long-standing institution of Spanish football and they have only ever been relegated from La Liga once.

That moment occurred three-and-a-half decades ago, in 1985-86, but they immediately bounced back, winning the Segunda in 1986-87.

Other popular Spanish clubs, such as Sociedad, Deportivo La Coruna, Sevilla and Real Betis have all endured multiple relegations.

Maintaining status in the top national league of a country is an impressive feat and not one that is easily achieved, with even the biggest clubs enduring relegation over time.

For example, just one Italian club (Inter) has never been relegated from Serie A and none of England's top clubs can claim an unblemished league record (though Arsenal have not been relegated since 1919).