and passionate derbies like the one between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Old Firm Derby – Celtic v Rangers
Though the fervor of this derby has been dampened by the demotion of Rangers, it is still one of the most passionate in world football and also one of the oldest. It is one of the fiercest and nastiest in the world. Contested between the Glasgow giants, the entire country takes a side, usually along religious lines.
They have played each other nearly 300 times. These two teams are in the same location but their fans have different religious beliefs. Celtic fans are Catholics and Rangers are Protestants. This difference increases the competition. While some of the heat has evaporated from this derby as the league’s overall quality has declined, this still remains a blood-and-thunder match of the first order.
The North West derby – Liverpool v Manchester United
The fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of the most significant sporting rivalries in football, sometimes referred to as the North West derby. Both clubs hail from the North West of England. Liverpool dominated from the 70’s through to the 80’s but Manchester United have dominated from the 90’s to the current time. When Sir Alex Ferguson took over the reins at Old Trafford, job number 1 was simple: Beat Liverpool. These teams hate each other to an extent that seems almost laughable from the outside. Each game can be counted on for fireworks, finger-pointing and days of recriminations. The North West derby has only increased in importance as both clubs have become global brands, and this is inarguably the biggest fixture on the English soccer calendar.
The Eternal Enemies Derby – Olympiakos Piraeus v Panathinaikos
Not the most famous but as passionate as any other. This Greek derby between two of the most successful football clubs in Greece is a rivalry that is cast upon class differences. Olympiakos fans are more from the working class district and Panathinaikos fans are from the richer district. Olympiakos have won more, especially in the past.
The Milan Derby – AC Milan v Inter Milan
The derby known as the Derby Della Madonnina is the most important Italian derby. This derby is one of the most watched derbies in the world and both teams share the same stadium San Siro. The two sides do have ultras but they concentrate their hostility on Juventus.
And even though they share a stadium, don’t be fooled: the crosstown classic at the San Siro has been hotly contested since 1908. The rivalry has almost always featured some of Italy’s top stars — both teams boast a who’s who of European greats — but today the game has an added political dimension: AC Milan is owned by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi while Inter is owned by the left-leaning Massimo Moratti.
The Eternal Derby – AS Roma v Lazio Roma
the Derby Della Capitale also known as the ‘Eternal Derby’. These two teams both located in capital of Italy, Rome. Also they share the same stadium Stadio Olimpico. The fans are divided socioeconomically. Roma’s fans are more working class while Lazio fans from the wealthier portion of the city. This derby saw the first death in Italian football when a Lazio fan was struck in the eye in 1979 by a Roma fired flare.
The Istanbul derby – Fenerbahce vs. Galatasary
This most fevered of derbies between two of the most successful football clubs in Turkey and tops them all for over-the top mayhem. They have played each other more than 365 times. Many matches are laced with intense clashes between the fans and neutral observers in Istanbul are told to stay at home on derby day.
There are even fights in the terraces during matches and according to current stats, Fenerbahce is more successful then Galatasaray especially in their stadium Sukru Saracoglu.
The Kitalar Arasi Derbi (Intercontinental Derby) attracts large crowds of wild fans and a singular air of menace.
Turkish football fans take passion to the extreme — their milder activities might include trying to stone the opposition’s bus — and this one is a game where folks stay off the streets. The fact that it is also a great match is sometimes lost on outsiders.
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