Football is a game that gets intensified with the great spirit of competition, and clubs from around the world have intense rivalries between them. Some rivalries have immense legacies, sometimes even a century old, that have grown to be well-known derbies.
Derbies are often considered to be the fiercest contests between teams, as in different eras the players, the managers, and even the spectators may change, but the rivalry keeps prevailing.
Derbies are not just mere matches, but they are intensified contests that may be formed due to the location of the clubs, a series of crucial games that adds fuel to the fire of rivalry. On such special occasions, the ground echoes with the cheers of the fans, and the electrifying atmosphere intensifies for the players who toil themselves to deliver their best performance in the match derbies.
Lazio vs. Roma
The local derby between the two very old teams with immense legacy in Serie A. The match between Lazio and Roma, two Roman sides, is commonly known as the Derby della Capitale.
It is one of the most immensely contested derbies in European football, as it started in 1929, and the 2 teams have encountered 182 matches officially, with Roma being the heavyweights with 67 wins. Roma legend Francesco Totti is the highest scorer with 11 goals in the history of the derby.
Porto vs Benfica
The two clubs are from the two biggest cities in Portugal, Porto and Lisbon, and two of the three most popular teams in Portugal’s Primeira Diviso. The two teams have been rivals for over a century now and have met a total of 250+ times; however, neither of these sides has ever met in any European competition match. Porto has a slight advantage over Benfica with 101 wins over the opposition’s 91 wins in the O Clássico.
Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce
The two Turkish giants are mostly known for being part of the big three in the Turkish first-division games. Considered one of the most intense fixtures of Turkish football, the contest between the 2 clubs is commonly called the Intercontinental Derby. The legacy of the derby lasts over 115 years, with the most wins for Fenerbahçe, and their legend Zeki Riza Sporel to date remains the highest scorer in the derby.
Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspurs
The Premier League consists of several clubs from all around England, while the two best teams hailing from North London—Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs—play in the North London derby, which was played for the first time in 1909. Arsenal are the more successful side with 81 wins, and Harry Kane remains the top scorer with 14 goals.
Inter Milan vs. Juventus
The most glorious game in Serie A and the most highly-rated derby among the three derbies of Italy is known as the Derby d’Italia, which involves Internazionale with Juventus in a contest over 115 years. Juventus have always been the heavyweights and the dominators with the most wins in the Italian derby. Many heated incidents have occurred every time these two teams have played against each other.
FC Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund
Der Klassiker is the German for the clasico, which is the name for the clash of the giants of the Bundesliga. Such amazing is the monopoly of these teams in the Bundesliga that they have lifted 26 titles of the 30 games together.
However, the derby between these two sides is not based on region or past rivalries; rather, it is based on the two clubs’ intense form and the quality of their gameplay. Bayern have been the dominant side, with ace striker Robert Lewandowski being the highest goal-getter with 32 goals.
Liverpool vs. Manchester United
The rivalry between the two most famous sides of the Premier League makes this rivalry one of the highest-honored inter-city rivalries, as these two sides have been the most decorated with over 67 trophies each. Played over a century, the Red Devils have had the upper hand, while Mo Salah with 12 goals is the highest scorer in this derby, which is played at either Anfield or Old Trafford, the two grounds with the most enthusiastic crowd in English football.
Manchester United vs Manchester City
The best city rivals of world football include the two modern-day giants of English football. Man City has always been the thorn in the paved ways of the Red Devils, who have had an immense legacy in their contest. The crowd from the same city, which is divided into two colors, gets very noisy when the two giants clash against each other, with Rooney being the dominant side with the highest number of goals.
AC Milan vs. Inter Milan
Derby della Madonnina is a derby between the two Milanese sides Inter Milan and AC Milan. Once the game was very famous due to the Inter team riding motorcycles to the stadium. Officially, these two giants of Italian football saw AC Milan win the maximum number of games.
Among these two sides, Maldini remains the favorite with the highest number of appearances against a single side, while Shevchenko scored on 14 occasions for AC Milan and is the highest goalscorer of the derby.
Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona
The football match between the two giants of not only Spanish but also world football—Real Madrid and Barcelona—is commonly known as the El Clasico. Played at the two most iconic grounds, Camp Nou and Santiago Bernabeu, the rivalry is intensified by the different sets of political representation.
El Clasico is a celebrated game between the two sides, who have played 256 official matches, while Barcelona are the heavyweights with dominant form. The great Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi playing for the opposite colors have made this game more of a personal rivalry for not only the fans of either side but also devotees of the two greats of modern football.
ALSO READ: Top 10 Football Managers of All Time