Rivalry Games Bring Out The Best In Teams, Fans & Game Atmosphere
In most games over the course of a season, the aim for both teams is simple: three points or progression to the next round, a means to an end rather than the end itself. On derby day, when bitter rivals meet in a match, things are very different.
More important than the extrinsic reward for victory is getting one over on your enemy, bragging to your mates at work or school on Monday and seeing your club establish itself as the pride of its region.
With this in mind, we’ve scoured the world to find seven great derbies, full of bad-blooded tribalism and historic contempt that leads to the most highly-charged encounters on the planet.
Second City
Birmingham City and Aston Villa haven’t always been in the same division, but rather than quell the sense of rivalry, the wait for meetings instead builds tension and suspense. Current Villa boss Steve Bruce led Birmingham to two derby doubles in his first three full seasons at St Andrews, but the team’s rival has had had the upper hand since the tenacious Robbie Savage, who took Dion Dublin’s iconic head-butt, left in 2005. Villa see itself as the city’s glamour club, while Blues’ more central location allows them to claim greater representation of its working class.
Superclasico
The theme of class also continues in Buenos Aires, where River Plate has won the Argentinian league 36 times and Boca Juniors are the only side to have tasted glory at least once a decade. The two foes were once neighbors but when River Plate moved in the 1920s, it became sufficiently wealthy to adopt the nickname Los Millionarios and the rivalry then became embittered in hate. Anyone attending the Superclasico should expect an atmosphere that is at best feisty and at worst violent.
El Clasico
Famous clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona should be remembered for the sheer quality on show. From David Villa’s starring role in Barca’s 5-0 win in 2010 that swung the title race, to Raul’s brilliance in a 4-1 win that added gloss to Los Blancos’ 2008 La Liga celebrations, every game has featured elite footballers. One of them, Luis Figo, changed loyalties back in 2000 and has the unwanted pig’s head of an angry Barcelona fan to show for it.
North London
It shouldn’t be forgotten that Arsenal dislikes Chelsea, as Tottenham do West Ham – Pedro Obiang’s strike from the 1-1 draw at Wembley is 33/1 with Betway to be named Goal of the Season as of 21st February. However, the North London Derby makes our list: it was bad enough for Spurs to endure Arsenal’s Invincibles campaign from close quarters, but to see them secure the title at White Hart Lane was simply too much for its fans to stomach. One member of that famous 2004 Gunners champions, Sol Campbell, faced hostility after going against his word to cross North London three years earlier, although Pat Jennings retains more respect from both camps.
North-West
All-Manchester and Merseyside clashes make excellent spectacles, but we think the North-West Derby will always be the Number One date on the English football calendar. The inter-city rivalry initiated upon the late 1800s construction of the Manchester Ship Canal, which was opposed by Liverpool and football has fanned those flames. Manchester United and Liverpool’s periods of dominance has led to bitterness from opposing fans in a clash that has perhaps been inflamed by controversy including responses to the Munich and Hillsborough disasters. Thankfully, most fans now agree that resorting to taunts over such atrocities crosses the line, so we can appreciate this derby for what it is: a fiercely-competitive clash between this country’s two biggest clubs.
Old firm
These games are often billed as Protestant Rangers against Catholic Celtic, but the conflict is based on more than simply religion. Rangers have more historical roots in Northern Ireland and Celtic, the Republic of Ireland, while political and social ideology also plays it’s part. The sectarian discrimination that had long been prominent in Glasgow has recently subsided, but the same cannot be said of the hostility between supporters. Owners clearly share the ill-feeling: only five post-war footballers have played for both giants – Alfie Conn, Mo Johnston, Kenny Miller, Steven Pressley and Mark Brown – none have made that switch in one transfer.
Derby della Madonnina
Inter and AC Milan share 18 titles apiece and both play at the famous San Siro, but as far as the two clubs are concerned, that’s where the similarities end. Football Club Internazionale was created in 1908 to accept foreign players as well as Italians, a philosophy that caused their founders to split with Milan Cricket and Football club. AC Milan then took over four decades to win another scudetto, during which time Inter proved more successful. The spectacle of watching the Derby di Milano, where there are flares, loud noise and profane banners, can be a joy to behold.
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