Top 10 Biggest Rivalries in Football | Sports News International

There is nothing more interesting than watching a football match between those teams who are sworn rivals. The sport has a really long history, and during those times, a lot of derbies have been developed. Some lose their spark with time, but some rivalries are still and will always remain alive. A derby match between two rival football holds the utmost importance as pride and honor, and the club and its fans are at stake. So, here is the list of the Top 10 Biggest Rivalries in Football whose matches you should never miss. 

10: Intercontinental Derby (Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce)

The Intercontinental Derby is a rivalry between Istanbul and Turkey\’s top football club. Galatasaray is from the European side of the city, whereas Fenerbahce is from the Asian side, and hence their rivalry is named the Intercontinental Derby. The rivalry between these two clubs was going on for a long time, but it got into the limelight when both the teams faced each other in the final match of the very first Turkish League. Fenerbahce won that match by 4-0. Ever since then, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce have become sworn football rivals.

9: The Paulista Derby (Corinthians vs Palmeiras)

The Paulista derby is the biggest football rivalry in Brazil. This feud is between two of the longest operating clubs in the city of Sao Paulo, Corinthians, and Palmeiras. Their rivalry began back in 1917 when Palmeiras became the very first team to defeat the newly established Corinthians by 3-0. Corinthians was undefeated in the last 25 games, and then Palmeiras came and humiliated them on the field. It was more than a reason to start a derby between these two clubs. 

8: The North London Derby (Arsenal FC vs. Tottenham Hotspur FC)

The North London Derby is the name of London\’s most heated Football rivalry. This feud is between two clubs that originated from north London, Arsenal FC, and Tottenham Hotspur FC. A match between these two teams has always attracted a large amount of audience. So far, Arsenal has managed to dominate this rivalry, but for the past couple of seasons, Tottenham Hotspur has been giving a tough competition to their opponents. 

7: The Manchester Derby (Manchester City FC vs. Manchester United FC)

The Manchester Derby is another heated football rivalry from England. It is one of the biggest rivalries in football that take place between Manchester City and Manchester United. This is one of the most dramatic feuds that has been going on since the late 80s. The Manchester Derby always managed to get a really good audience as the fans of both these teams are quite passionate about this team. 

6: Derby Della Madonnina (Inter Milan vs. AC Milan)

Derby Della Madonnina, also known as The Milan Derby, is one of the biggest rivalries in football that originated from Italy. This feud is between city rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan. Both these teams share the same home stadium in the form of San Siro stadium and are desperate to prove that they\’re the best ones on that ground. Both Inter Milan and AC Milan have performed pretty well and delivered several nail-biting matches. A match between these teams is really important for their fans as it is the only way to decide the best team in Milan. 

5: The Old Firm Derby (Celtic FC vs. Rangers FC)

The Old Firm is a rivalry between two of the most successful clubs in the history of Scottish football. Both Celtic and Rangers have proved themselves on the fields. They are also the most powerful and rich football clubs in Scotland. The Old Firm Derby is one the oldest and biggest rivalries in football that already generates millions in revenue for Scotland\’s economy. The fans are so passionate about these teams that sometimes they go completely violent. There are instances when this violence has resulted in death as well. 

4: Der Klassiker (FC Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund)

Der Klassiker can be said to be one of the biggest rivalries in German football. It is a feud between two of the most successful clubs in Germany, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayern Munich. This rivalry reached its peak in 2010 when both these teams were the primary contenders for the Bundesliga title. Der Klassiker has delivered several memorable matches, and the fans are looking forward to seeing more of them. 

3: The North West Derby (Liverpool FC vs. Manchester United FC)

The North West Derby between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC is certainly one of the biggest rivalries in football. Both these teams are archrivals who always try to prove that they are the best football club in England. The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester United is so heated that even players publicly showed their hatred towards their opponents several times. Their fans can always expect to see a thriller when these two teams square off on a field. 

2: El Super Clasico (Boca Junior vs River Pate)

El Super Clasico is a football rivalry between Argentina\’s two of the most successful clubs, Boca Juniors and River Plate. Their rivalry has been going on since the early 90s to claim the title of the best club in Bueno Aires. There is a huge difference in their fans, too, as the supporters of Boca Juniors belonged to the working class, whereas the supporters of River Plate are from the upper class. As a result, it goes without saying that it is one of the most intense and biggest rivalries in football. 

1: El Clasico (Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona)

It is quite easy for anyone to guess that the biggest football rivalry is none other than a derby named El Clasico. It is a feud between two Spanish clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. The rivalry between these two teams reached whole new heights when Messi and Ronaldo were playing for opposite teams. Messi has played for FC Barcelona, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo represented Real Madrid. It made El Clasico the biggest football rivalry in the last decade.