This article deals with major football (soccer) rivalries around the world. This includes derbies as well as matches between teams further apart.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
The match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain is considered a very fierce rivalry. This is due to Barcelona being a symbol of Catalan culture against that of the Spanish Real Madrid. Animosity between the two clubs rose further in 2000 when Barca star player Luis Figo joined their arch-rivals in a £37 million deal.
Boca Juniors vs River Plate
These two teams from Buenos Aires, Argentina are the protagonist of the so called El Superclásico (the super classic) of Argentine football. The rivalry between Boca Juniors and River Plate is intense, and the teams have sometimes taken to distribute posters to tease the other team after a defeat between them or even lost in any major competition, or to show off after winning the local league or an international championship.
Known worldwide for the passion of the fans, the fields of both teams are loaded with passionate songs (often based on popular Argentine rock band tunes) against their rivals, fireworks, flags and paper. There are also infrequent riots between the hardest supporters of both sides.
The history of matches between them shows a slight advantage to Boca Juniors.
As of April 2005:
| Championship
| Played
| Boca
| Ties
| River
|
| Local League | 176 | 65 | 52 | 59
|
| International Competitions | 24 | 10 | 8 | 6
|
| Frendly Matches | 89 | 36 | 27 | 26
|
| Local Cups | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1
|
| Total | 291 | 106 | 88 | 92
|
Celtic vs Rangers
One of the most heated competitions in the world, the Old Firm Derby as it has grown to be called, pits Scotland's two premier teams in Celtic and Rangers. The game is one of the most fiercely battled in the world and the crowds are rarely disapointed. It splits Glasgow in two and the rivalry is so intense that you are warned not to wear team colours around the city at any times. The game has its roots in religion with Rangers being a Protestant backed organization while Celtic was a Catholic club. Although this does not take precedent over the game any more, it still is one of the greatest rivalries in all of worldwide sports.
Fenerbahçe vs Galatasaray
Named as "Turkish Delight" in BBC's derby section, this is the clash of Turkey's two most succesful teams. For some fans, winning the derby is more important than winning the league. Galatasaray won both the UEFA and Super Cup in 2000, and their fans tease Fenerbahçe fans because of their relative failure in European competitions. Conversely, Fenerbahçe fans mock their opponents due to recent derby results, such as the 2002/03 match in which Fenerbahçe won 6-0 at home. The fans of the two teams are traditionally split along class lines, with Fenerbahçe being the working class team and Galatasaray - who were founded by Galatasaray Lycee students - the more aristocratic. Fenerbahçe is a bit more succesful than Galatasaray in the derby, which was first played in 1909.
Liverpool vs Manchester United
The two most successful clubs in English football have a long standing rivalry, so much so that no player has been transfered between the two in over 30 years. The rivalry has its roots in inter-city animosity between Liverpool and Manchester and the historical success both teams have enjoyed throughout the decades. In the early post-war years religion played a part to an extent, Liverpool being a Protestant club and United being Catholic, although this is largely irrelevent to modern day fans.
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