The 10 greatest rivalries in club football history

#3 Fenerbahce vs. Galatasaray

This is a one of a kind football rivalry. Fenerbahce and Galatasaray are from the city of Istanbul. But interestingly enough, it is called ‘The Intercontinental Derby’ as Fenerbahce is on the Asian side of Istanbul and Galatasaray is on the European side.

The two most decorated clubs in Turkey are part of, possibly, the most intense and bitter derbies in European football. In their 111-year history, the Istanbul-based clubs have met 391 times where Fenerbahce are ahead with 146-124. However, Galatasaray have an upper hand in league titles (22-19) and the Turkish Cup (18-6).

Flares and stand-offs in the stands amongst fans is a common occurrence and even on the field, there is never a shortage of yellow and red cards.

#2 El Clasico

The rivalry that needs no introduction, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid. Spanish Nationalists vs. Catalan Nationalists, El Clasico is more than just a game of football.

The derby between two giants of Spanish and European football is amongst the most viewed annual sporting events. Legend has it that the world as we know it stops for 90 minutes every time Barcelona and Real Madrid face each other.

While the two teams first met in 1902, the rivalry started to develop on the political front during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Francisco Franco, the Spanish general who led the nationalist forces during the Civil war, was against the idea of Catalonia as a separate nation, a notion which had been brewing in the North of Spain. Meanwhile, Barcelona was a huge force behind this notion.

The involvement of politics in football only made things worse and it became a full-blown rivalry after Real’s controversial 11-1 victory against Barcelona in 1943. Since then, the controversies surrounding the transfers of Alfredo Di Stefano in the 1950s and Luis Figo in 2000 have only added more fuel to the fire.

The teams have met 244 times in competitive games and are poised at 96-96, which says a lot about the on-field rivalry. However, Real lead the race for the league titles with 34-26 and European titles with a record 13 titles to Barcelona’s five.

#1 Boca Juniors vs. River Plate

Working class vs. upper-class supporters, check. Derogatory nicknames for oppositions, check. Flares, violence and insanely dangerous match day rituals, check, check and check.

There are very few places more intense than Buenos Aires on the day of the Superclasico. The two most successful football clubs in Argentina may not be as famous as Barcelona and Real Madrid, but their derby is considered to be the biggest and most intense rivalry not just in football, but the entire sports world.

Just like most other rivalries, Boca Juniors vs. River Plate has a history of cultural differences. However, the game of football has not been able to transition this rivalry into a peaceful one. Just in 2018, the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final, where the two clubs met for the first time in their history, had to be moved to Spain due to violence in the first leg.

Boca lead the all-time wins 89-83, while River Plate lead league titles 36-34. But numbers hardly matter on the game day. Such is the hatred amongst both clubs that as long as you win the game, the league title hardly matters.