Most Dramatic Rivalries in Football

A good rivalry adds excitement and intrigue to any generally mundane fixture. This fandom has frequently been tainted by violent and discriminatory actions of fans revolving around intense matchups. Considering that, the atmosphere, the banners, the songs, the screams and the passion are unprecedentedly found in soccer. Here are a few intense rivalries that have kept the crowd entertained!

El Clásico

Barcelona vs Real Madrid is termed as El Clasico, which is the most famous football rivalry known to mankind. It takes place in Spain’s La Liga and this rivalry is deeply rooted in politics. Catalonia, the region of Spain in which Barcelona the city and the football club reside, fought for independence in the Spanish Civil War. Both the teams began to represent the ideals and beliefs of each side in the war. Other reasons include controversial player transfers, pig’s heads on the pitch and Messi vs Ronaldo. It also consequently caused a widely-followed rivalry between former Barca striker Messi and former Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo.

El Súper Clásico

Chivas vs Club America is called El Super Clasico that is held within Liga MX. It comprises Mexico's two largest and most widely supported sides which represent different cultures, ideologies, and classes. Both teams - Club Deportivo Guadalajara “Chivas” and Club América – have shared different periods of glory in their histories, but their rivalry is still considered to be one of their biggest individual highlights. Their record contains infamous separate on-field brawls (including 1986 and 2013) that have truly kept their rivalry afloat.

The North London Derby

Arsenal FC vs Tottenham Hotspurs FC is known as the North London Derby which is London's most intense rivalry. Surprisingly, the clash did not originate due to their origin. Both Premier League teams hail from London’s north side, and their hatred took shape in 1913, when Arsenal shifted from the Manor Ground, Plumstead to Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, which was not approved by Tottenham as they considered Highbury their territory. This rivalry was more defined in the back rooms and at the negotiating tables. It is said that the Gunners do not belong in the top division of English soccer.

El Superclásico

Although both clubs hail from the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, River Plate and Boca Juniors are said to be two of Argentina’s most successful but violent clubs. In 1925, River Plate transferred to a more affluent location in the city. Juniors, on the other hand, were seen as the working-class club of the layman and their stadium was located in a poorer section of town. In 1968, 71 young supporters were killed and 150 of them injured due to a rush at a gate at El Monumental, River’s stadium. In 2015, a Boca fan jumped on River Plate players with pepper spray and three years later, River fans sought revenge on the way to a match as a result of which the match was held privately.

Der Klassiker

Entirely based on sportsmanship, the rivalry between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich shot up in the last three decades because they're both top teams that usually find themselves at the top of the Bundesliga. In the 90s, Dortmund sacked two league titles and a treble, but Bayern was beginning to establish dominance in Germany. However, the opponent took two straight league titles at the end of the 2010s. Bayern then started to poach Dortmund’s top talents - Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, and Mats Hummels - which was seen as the rich getting richer.

The Northwest Derby

Besides being the biggest-earning and widely known clubs in the world, they stand as regional rivals, infrastructure rivals, and sporting rivals. Manchester United and Liverpool both have two of the biggest fan bases in the world. Both the cities reside in the northwestern region of England, and have competed down the years in industrialization and modernization besides football. They're also seen as two of the most successful clubs in England domestically and abroad.