All sports teams have rivalries with other teams, but nothing compares to some of the fierce rivalries in football, or soccer if you prefer. Football fans live and breathe their teams, and they revere their players with God-like status. Certain matches, especially those against teams in close proximity to each other, create electric, hostile environments not seen in any other sport.
In the realm of football, few terms evoke as much passion and rivalry as a “Derby”. To the uninitiated, a derby in football refers to a match between two teams from the same city or region. It’s more than a simple game; it is a cultural event deeply intertwined with local pride and identity. Derbies have been a part of football culture since the inception of the sport, and these matches often carry a weight of history and fierce competition that transcends the normal boundaries of the beautiful game. In essence, the fierce football derbies we know today represent the apex of passion, rivalry, and excitement in this globally beloved sport.
The following derby games are the 10 most fierce rivalries in football.
10 – Superclasico – Boca Juniors versus River Plate
Prepare for fireworks when Boca Juniors and River Plate face each other. Both teams are the most successful Argentinian sides in history, with online sports betting sites pricing them both as favorites to win the Argentina league title.
The Superclasico is the name given to the game when these two teams meet each season. Passionate fans pack the stadiums and release fireworks, flares, confetti, flags, and paper rolls. The entire match is spent goading the opposing fans, and violence is not uncommon at the ground before, during, and after the game. British newspaper The Observer listed this derby as one of the 50 sporting things you must see before you die! That is some recommendation.
09 – Old Firm Derby – Celtic versus Rangers
The Old Firm Derby pitches Celtic against Rangers; both Scottish teams have their stadium in Glasgow. Celtic and Rangers fans have a mutual hatred for each other that runs deeper than football; it boils down to religion. Celtic is traditionally a catholic club while Rangers is protestant.
The atmosphere often spills over outside the ground, leading to both teams not allowing away supporters in for the Old Firm Derby.
08 – Intercontinental Derby – Galatasaray versus Fenerbahce
Turkish fans can be a little crazy at the best of times, especially when it comes to Galatasaray and Fenerbache because these top teams are from Istanbul. The games are a sight to behold, with flares and pyrotechnics going off every second, or so it seems.
Sadly, this encounter often sees violence outside the grounds, with both teams’ hardcore supporters preferring to fight each other than watch the game of football inside the stadiums.
07 – El Clasico – Real Madrid versus Barcelona
El Clasico is the match-up between Spain’s FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, the two most successful teams in La Liga. The rivalry stems from both teams coming from two of Spain’s largest cities, but also because both teams tend to be fighting for the championship each year.
Barcelona’s Camp Nou and Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium reach their respective capacities of 99,354 and 81,044, respectively.
06 – Derby Della Modonnina – Inter versus Milan
Inter Milan or Internazionale to give them their full title, take on AC Milan twice per year at the same ground. This is because both Milan clubs share the San Siro stadium. This derby has happened every year since 1909, making it one of the longest-running local derbies in football.
The atmosphere is intense, with both sets of players saying it is a life-changing experience to be part of the game. Former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini played a record 56 times in this fixture.
05 – Derby Della Capitale – Lazio verus Roma
Lazio versus Roma is another same-city Italian football derby; both teams call Rome home. Rome residents are split firmly into two camps: Lazio or Roma, and they make their allegiances known!
Lazio has the crazier fans, known as ultras, who are often racist with banners, stickers, and similar. Roma’s ultras prefer to do their talking by fighting, making for a tasty encounter when the teams face off at the 70,634 capacity Stadio Olympico.
04 – Eternal Derby – Red Star Belgrade versus Partizan Belgrade
When Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade face each other, the Eternal Derby is known as the Eternal Derby. Both teams hail from Belgrade, Serbia, with Red Star supporters known as Delije, and Partizan fans are known as Grobari. The record attendance for this fixture stands at a staggering 108,000!
03 – The Fla-Flu – Flamengo versus Fluminese
While Argentinian football fans are super passionate, Brazilian fans push them all the way for fanaticism. Flamengo is one of the most successful teams in Brazil, with Fluminese their closest rivals in terms of proximity and league titles.
This rivalry started in 1911 when several Fluminese players left and joined Flamengo. An incredible 194,603 fans turned out for a meeting between the sides in 1963 despite the stadium only holding 78,838 spectators!
02 – Derby of eternal enemies – Olympiakos versus Panathinaikos
The name of this fixture tells you everything you need to know about Olympiacos versus Panathinaikos of Greece. The two teams are the most popular in Greece, but this fixture seems to attract more than its fair share of football hooligans.
Traditionally, Panathinaikos fans were wealthier, while Olympiacos fans were working-class, starting a bitter rivalry.
01 – North West Derby – Liverpool versus Manchester United
There are many local derbies in England due to the size of the country, but none are as hotly contested as Liverpool versus Manchester United. It dates back to April 1894, and there have been 208 meetings between the two hugely successful teams.
The rivalry runs so deep that no player has transferred between the two clubs since 1964.
While a derby is undoubtedly a form of rivalry, it is, in many ways, a category unto itself. These aren’t merely games between teams who have a long-standing competition; they are, more often than not, fixtures that have become a part of the identity of the cities or regions they represent. They are battles for bragging rights, for glory, and, in many cases, for the chance to become legends. Yes, a derby is a rivalry, but one where the stakes are amplified by the close proximity of the opponents, making these contests some of the most heated, and watched, in all of football.
As we journey through the world’s most fierce football derbies, remember that every tackle, every goal, and every moment of these games carry the hopes and dreams of millions of fans. These aren’t just football matches; they are epic narratives written on a field of green, where the love for the sport becomes a universal language spoken across the globe.
The Clash of Titans: The Biggest Derby in Football History
For those wondering, “Which is the biggest derby in football?” the answer might surprise you, as it’s often subject to heated debate. Nonetheless, the consensus often falls on one match that represents the pinnacle of football rivalry: The Superclásico.
This electrifying event takes place between two of the most famous football clubs in Buenos Aires, Argentina: River Plate and Boca Juniors. For over a century, these two teams have battled it out in a series of competitions that often seem to stop time itself in Argentina.
The Superclásico isn’t just a game, it’s a spectacle of pure passion, where each side strives to outdo the other with more creative chants, larger flags, and more incredible goals. The roar of the crowd, the sea of colours, and the raw emotion that floods the stadium make this clash one of the most unforgettable experiences in football. The fierce competition on the pitch reflects not just the sporting rivalry, but also the cultural, social, and economic divide that historically separates the fan bases of the two clubs.
From players to fans, everyone involved treats the Superclásico with utmost importance, adding to its reputation as one of the most intense and fiercest derby in the world of football.