Slaps, kicks, and eye pokes: Top 5 El Clasico fights

It's one of the few rivalries that features more fights on the pitch than in the stands.

Regardless of the venue, the unrelenting passion isn't confined to the stands during El Clasico as Barcelona and Real Madrid legends have famously let irrational displays of emotion cast a shadow on the world's biggest club rivalry.

Breathtaking moments of skill and highlight-reel goals have at times been forced to take a backseat during the predictable outburst of dirty plays, scuffles, and arguments between all involved.

As recent clashes have proven, the extensive history of bad blood between Real Madrid and Barcelona is showing no signs of subsiding and should make for yet another fierce battle during Saturday's encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Here's a list of five memorable El Clasico altercations:

Sergio Ramos drops Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol - 2010

Notorious instigator, Sergio Ramos sparked an intense fracas when he gave up on the monumental assignment of marking Lionel Messi and, instead, decided the best way to stop the Argentine superstar was to chop him down at the legs.

The kick to Messi's leg was quickly followed by a scrum of Barcelona and Real Madrid players, with the former desperate to get a piece of the Spanish defender. Puyol got the closest and was quickly met with a shove to the face, leaving the Catalan captain alongside Messi on the ground.

(Courtesy: Clamkos Prot)

Hierro, Rivaldo trade head-butts and slaps - 2001

Without digging too far into the more than 200 matches, hostilities between Real Madrid defender Fernando Hierro and Brazilian legend Rivaldo 15 years ago set the stage for the recent tensions.

One such occasion in 2001 saw Hierro take a swipe at the Barca playmaker after a 50-50 ball. The Spaniard took exception to Rivaldo's high boot and confronted him afterwards in an ugly altercation that included head-butts and slaps.

Zidane loses cool, targets Luis Enrique - 2003

Zinedine Zidane's famous temper got the best of him after several Barcelona players approached him for elbowing Carles Puyol.

Like a cornered animal, Zidane lost his cool and took exception to current Barca manager Luis Enrique and his attempts to get an explanation from the Frenchman.

Zidane launched a verbal and physical attack, even managing to strike Enrique in the face, as Real teammates struggled to hold him back.

(Courtesy: 007goran007)

Cristiano Ronaldo shoves Pep Guardiola - 2010

Barcelona's loyalty to manager Pep Guardiola was on full display in the frantic moments after Cristiano Ronaldo shoved the Spanish boss.

In a situation that could have easily been avoided, Guardiola's cheeky attempt to deny Ronaldo the ball during a throw-in resulted in a fierce confrontation between both sets of players.

Guardiola held the ball out of Ronaldo's grasp and escalated the situation further when he rolled it down the line, setting the Portuguese international off as he shoved the Barca boss.

Jose Mourinho eye poke adds to mayhem - 2011

Perhaps one of the more bizarre disputes, though triggered by a nasty slide tackle, involved two coaches.

Mayhem erupted in the moments after Cesc Fabregas found himself on the end of Marcelo's bone-crunching tackle, right in front of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. With rage in their eyes, both sets of players and coaches confronted one another.

Then came the infamous poke when Mourinho escalated the situation by targeting Barcelona assistant Tito Villanova from behind and, without hesitation, gouged his eye. The Real Madrid boss claimed he was provoked, but was rightfully punished soon after.

(Courtesy: footballkitsshirts)