Goal.com Worldview: What Is The World's Biggest Local Derby?

The Rome derby is one of the top games in the Serie A calendar, and probably the most explosive, passionate and gripping local derby in Italy. Some would even argue that it is the best derby in world football.

There are many other city rivalries around the globe that would contend this honour though. What about Boca Juniors versus River Plate, Rangers-Celtic, Orlando Pirates-Kaizer Chiefs, and Galatasaray-Fenerbahce, to name just a handful. Remember we are talking about teams who share the same city, so Barcelona versus Real Madrid, for example, does not count.

In order to find out exactly what the world’s biggest clash is, we asked a global panel of Goal.com editors to sell the greatest local derbies from their country or region. Every derby will begin with the words: 'Team X versus Team Y is the biggest derby in the world because'...

In a two-part series, we will first examine the top derbies from Europe.

Italy

Roma versus Laziois the biggest derby in the world because it's the most passionate game for players and citizens of the Italian capital. For many years the two clubs had different stories. If the Giallorossi were doing well, the Biancoazzurri were usually struggling or in Serie B. Roma supporters boast that their team is more popular, while Lazio fans point out that their club is "the first to be born in Rome". Roma have Francesco Totti as a flag, idol, and talisman. Lazio did have Alessandro Nesta. The game is a tense affair, and there are usually riots outside the Olimpico Stadium. There is a saying that ‘the team who are lower in the table usually wins the derby’. Therefore Roma are favourites on Sunday!

Milan versus Interis the biggest derby in the world because they are two of the best teams on the planet. The Rossoneri are the reigning World Champions and possess three Golden Ball players on their roster. Inter are the most important team in Serie A, and have won the last three Scudetti. Inter and Milan also have a South American rivalry. The Rossoneri prefer Brazilians, the Nerazzurri – Argentines. The Superclasico is always a fascinating game…

Genoa versus Sampdoriais the biggest derby in the worldbecause it is the best Italian match for choreography, colour, and fair play. Genoa and Sampdoria fans both invented a funny name to label their opponents. Blucerchiati fans call the Rossoblù 'Bibini', while Genoa tifosi label Blucerchiati fans 'Ciclisti' (cyclists) because their shirts have black-white-red bands like a cycle world champion!

Daniele Perticari, Goal.com Italy

Spain

Real Madrid versus Atlético de Madridis the biggest derby in the worldbecause of a strange phenomenon: every team in Spain has had their 'glory moment' or ‘day of inspiration' against Real Madrid at some point, but Atlético never has. It has been a long, long time since the 'colchoneros' enjoyed their last win against their capital rivals in Spain, and every derby becomes more of the same drama for them: Atlético might play better, might go ahead, and might also play with one or two more players... but they can't beat the 'merengues'. Besides this - or maybe because of this - any big clash between these two brothers is a must to see!

Sevilla versus Betisis the biggest derby in the worldbecause of the 'little town' atmosphere involving these two big rivals. Madrid, Roma or Milan might be large cities, but Sevilla is really split into two pieces when we talk about football: the white-red and the green-white halves of the same coin. The entire week before any derby in Sevilla, you can breath it in the bars, the shops, the markets, and there's not entire neighbours belonging to just one team. You see the derby ‘split’ everywhere... even in your own house!

Juan Lirman, Goal.com Spain

United Kingdom

Arsenal versus Tottenham Hotspuris the biggest derby in the world because the bitterness is real, enduring and nasty. Although both clubs were formed in the 1880s, the enmity began when Arsenal moved from Woolwich, south of the River Thames, to Highbury, four miles from White Hart Lane and perceived by outraged Tottenham to be in their manor. The hatred intensified dramatically when the Gunners, thanks to some shrewd if not entirely scrupulous politicking, were elected to the expanded First Division in 1919 at Tottenham's expense.

And it has grown steadily in succeeding decades as one club or the other has enjoyed ascendancy on the pitch. There is a razor-sharp divide within North London, and at every Arsenal game you will hear Gooners ritually abusing Spurs with great gusto, and vice-versa - even though the enemy are playing somewhere else entirely. When derby day itself comes around, the atmosphere in the streets is as ugly as it gets. And events such as Sol Campbell's 'defection' to Highbury in 2001 ensure that the fires of mutual loathing never die down...

Graham Lister, Goal.com International (England)

Liverpool versus Evertonis the biggest derby in the world because it is the only derby in the world where supporters can intermingle in the stands. The ‘brothers’ progressed to the 1984 Milk Cup final and instead of differing chants bellowed from each set of fans, the only thing that was audible for a while were unanimous chants of: 'Merseyside... Merseyside... Merseyside.'

Following the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in 1989 a sea of red and blue Liverpool and Everton scarves were stretched from the gates of Goodison Park to the gates of Anfield to honour those who had died. The two clubs also united over the death of Evertonian Rhys Jones; an 11-year old shooting victim who died as he was shot in the neck while crossing Croxteth Park.

There have been a few ugly isolated incidents (Phil Neville being spat on, chants about Gerrard's girlfriend), but on the whole because of the closeness of the stadia, families often have both Reds and Blues in the same household... meaning it is, for the most part, a friendly derby.

Alan Dawson Goal.com International (England)

Celtic versus Rangersis the biggest derby in the world because any game played within a city populated by 620,000 people, yet which can generate a worldwide audience of 150 million, is a sheer force of nature. Dating back to 1888, the 'Old Firm' derby is huge. The 1969 Scottish Cup final was seen by 132,870 spectators at the national stadium, Hampden, and the fixture remains a red-hot ticket.

The all-Glasgow rivalry is in the spotlight now more than ever, with authorities clamping down on sectarian hatred. Celtic are considered a Catholic club and Rangers Protestant, while political aspects also come into play. Unfortunately, violence and abuse have always been part of the landscape.The games themselves are powder-keg affairs played at break-neck speed, with players from around Europe losing themselves in the experience.

Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com International (Scotland)

Southern Europe

Panathinaikos versus Olympiakosis the biggest derby in the world because the two sides used to represent the two big parts of the Athens metropolitan area - Panathinaikos the city centre, while Olympiakos the nearby port of Piraeus. Of course Panathinaikos fans were considered more upper-class, while Olympiakos fans drew their support from the working-class people who used to make their living as craftsmen, although no such thing applies today.

However, the animosity between the two rivals has never been greater, with regular violent incidents before each derby. Indeed, in the last couple of years the derbies are played in front of only the home-side's fans as the police attempt to avoid trouble. In the last three years at least two people have lost their lives in pre-arranged fights between the clubs' fans. As for the atmosphere during the games, it can hardly been described. And it's not just during the derby, but also before and after. However, the pressure on the players is so high that rarely the game itself has any value, with most of the derbies ending in bore-draws.

Michael Paterakis, Goal.com Greece

Galatasaray versus Fenerbahçe is the biggest derby in the world because these two teams have won the title 17 times, which is the most in Turkey. There is also a belief about class difference between team fans. Fenerbahçe’s are mostly from the wealthy class, while Galatasaray’s are from the aristocracy because of the school first president Ali Sami Yen attended. That school was established by the Ottoman Empire for princes and high level government members.

Derbies between these two teams have some interesting stories, like the 'Souness Flag' incident in 1995/1996. Galatasaray won the Turkish Cup on their rivals' ground and, after the award ceremony, coach Graeme Souness placed the Galatasaray flag into the centre circle of the pitch. This ‘insult’ by the Scotsman caused some problems between the two teams, and no one has ever forgotten about it.

Ceyhun Bayel, Goal.com Turkey

And Finally…

Even little Austria has a very important city derby.

Austria Vienna versus Rapid Vienna is the biggest derby in the world because the rivalry and differences between both clubs couldn’t be bigger. In the past the derby was a duel between the working and middle class of Vienna, but now it’s much more than this. Rapid and all green fans emphasize the tradition of the club, whereas Austria is out-of-favor due to the commerce policy. Very interesting fact: The derby of Vienna is the second most played derby of Europe - only the Old Firm has had more games played.

Thomas Bauer, Goal.com Germany

Some Other Notable Local European Derbies

Grasshoppers – FC Zurich (Switzerland)
Wisla Krakow – Cracovia Krakow (Poland)
Apoel Nicosia – Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus)
Dinamo Bucharest – Steaua Bucharest (Romania)
CSKA Sofia – Levski Sofia (Bulgaria)
Benfica – Sporting Lisbon (Portugal)
Ferencvaros – Ujpest (Hungary)
Red Star Belgrade – Partizan Belgrade (Serbia)

What are your views on this topic? Which derby do you believe to be the biggest in the world? Tomorrow we will publish part two where you will be able to read all about the big non-European derbies such as Boca-River, Kaizer Chiefs-Orlando Pirates and Flamengo-Fluminense.


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