One of the things that makes the football game fun for the fans, is to see their favorite team, demolishing their opponents. However, this is nothing compared to that “over the moon” feeling when your favorite football club wins over your arch rivals, in matches known as derbies.
Every season, football fans like myself look up to these important derbies where we support our teams and football clubs in these legendary matches.
Here, I will show you some of the biggest rivalries in soccer history. This will include soccer rivalries across several leagues, countries, and even continents.
1. Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona
- Nickname – The El Classico
- Country – Spain
- First Met – 1902
- Highest Scoreline – 11-1 (Real Madrid)
Considered to be the biggest rivalry in world football, the Real Madrid vs Barcelona clash, also known as the el Classico is the most popular derby in soccer.
It attracts viewers from across various continents including Africa, South America, Australia, and others.
The first El Classico was played in 1902. However, it was still not known as an El Classico as both teams were not really popular and did not establish their authority in Europe. Nevertheless, FC Barcelona, which is known for their Catalan nationalism came out with victories, defeating FC Madrid (as Real Madrid was then called) 3-1 in the friendly.
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And since then, the El Classico derby has produced even its own finest football rivalries, this includes Messi vs Ronaldo, Karim Benzema vs Luis Suarez, and Zidane vs Ronaldinho.
2. Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund
- Nickname – Der Klassiker
- Country – Germany
- First Met – 1965
- Highest Scoreline 11-1 (Bayern München)
Second on our list of biggest rivalries in soccer history is the Bayern Munich vs Borussia Dortmund rivalry.
Known as the Der Klassiker, the rivalry occurs between the two most successful clubs in Germany.
The first meeting in 1965, the Der Klassiker, like most of the other rivalries, was not that intense and was not even considered a rivalry.
However, it was not until later on in the 1990s when Borussia Dortmund rose to prominence, winning Bundesliga in a row, including during the 1994–95 and the 1995-1996 seasons that the rivalry began to become solid.
3. Liverpool vs Manchester United
- Nickname – The North West Derby
- Country – England
- First Met – 1894
- Highest Scoreline – 7-0 (Liverpool)
Known as The North West Derby, the Manchester United vs Liverpool rivalry is one of the biggest rivalries in soccer.
It occurs between the two most successful English clubs, with Liverpool being the English side with the most UEFA Champions League (6), and Manchester United being the English side with the most league titles (20).
Both clubs have met 211 times, with Manchester United having the head-to-head advantage.
4. Marseille vs PSG
- Nickname – Le Classique
- Country – France
- First Met – 1970
- Highest Scoreline – 1-5 (PSG)
Birthed in 1970, the Marseille vs Paris Sainte Germain rivalry, also known as the Le Classique, is known to be one of the biggest rivalries in France.
Similar to most of the other rivalries on this list, the Le Classique was not a rivalry back when it started, as the newly established Paris Saint Germain were building their team, while Marseille was already a top side, winning the Ligue One/French Championships over 4 times.
It all started during the 1986 Ligue One season when Marseille had a change of ownership, and Paris Saint Germain went ahead to win their first league title that same season.
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5. Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid
- Nickname – El Derbi Madrileño
- Country – Spain
- First Met – 1906
- Highest Scoreline – 7-3 (Atletico Madrid)
Another rivalry in Spain, The El Derbi Madrileño, unlike the El Classico, is a rivalry between two neighbors, which makes it pretty much a derby.
First played in 1906, the El Derbi Madrileño is a derby played between City rivals, Real Madrid against Atlético Madrid.
The El Derbi Madrileño, just like the El Classico has a little bit of a political narrative involved.
Real Madrid’s rising to prominence under Francisco Franco seems to have affected the locals, and was tagged the “club for the elites”, while their rivals, Atletico Madrid was tagged the “club for the workers”.
6. Lazio Roma vs AS Roma
- Nickname – Derby della Capitale (The Rome Derby)
- Country – Italy
- First Met – 1929
- Highest Scoreline – 0-4 (AS Roma)
Known as the Derby della Capitale, the Roma vs Lazio football rivalry is one of the favorites for football fans
It is considered to be the fiercest derby in Italy and has always been filled with a colorful and excited crowd.
The rivalry was formed when Lazio refused to be part of the three Roman clubs which merged together to form Roma, which was aim to challenge the dominance of Northern Italian football clubs.
7. Manchester United vs Manchester City
- Nickname – The Manchester Derby
- Country – England
- First Met – 1881
- Highest Scoreline – 6-1 (Manchester City)
The Manchester United vs Manchester City rivalry is one of the most intense and passionate football rivalries in the world. Similar to most of the other rivalries such as the El Derbi Madrileño, the two clubs are local rivals and are based in Manchester, and also share a long history of fierce competition on and off the pitch.
Known as the Manchester Derby, football fans get to watch the rivalry at least two times in the English Premier League, the English top-flight football, where both sides participate.
As with other rivalries, the Manchester City vs Manchester United rivalry dates back a very long time. With the first match between the two sides taking place in 1881, it was not until the 1960s that the rivalry began to take shape, and in the 2010s when it began to take it present it present shape, as Manchester City experienced a change in management.
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8. Liverpool vs Everton
- Nickname – The Merseyside Derby
- Country – England
- First Met – 1894
- Highest Scoreline – 7-4 (Liverpool)
The Liverpool vs Everton rivalry, also known as the Merseyside Derby, is one of the most historic and intense rivalries in English football, and in world football as a whole.
Like most of the other rivalries on this list, the Liverpool vs Everton rivalry is more of a derby as the two clubs are based in Liverpool, and have been competing against each other since they first met in the 1800s.
The first Merseyside Derby was played in 1894, with Everton winning the match 3-0. However, since then, the two clubs have played against each other over 230 times, with Liverpool holding a slight advantage in wins.
9. Boca Juniors vs. River Plate
- Nickname – Superclasico
- Country – Argentina
- First Met – 1913
- Highest Scoreline – 6-0 (Boca Juniors)
Arguably one of the biggest and most violent rivalries in football is the Boca Juniors vs. River Plate rivalry.
The rivalry, also known as the Superclasico is a derby between two soccer clubs based in Buenos Aires.
Dating back to the 1900s, the two clubs have played each other over 250 times, with Boca Juniors holding a slight advantage over River Plate.
As with most of the other rivalries, the Boca Juniors vs River Plate rivalry goes beyond just football. And just like the El Derbi Madrileño, the rivalry seems to have had some socioeconomic roots.
Boca Juniors is considered a working-class club, while River Plate is seen as more affluent.
10. Celtic vs. Rangers
- Nickname – The Old Firm Derby
- Country – Scotland
- First Met – 1888
- Highest Scoreline – 7-1 (Celtic)
The tenth on our list of the biggest rivalries in soccer is the Celtic vs Rangers rivalry.
Known as the Old Firm Derby, the rivalry between both clubs is between two Scottish sides, based in Glasgow. It has one of the oldest rivalries in world football and is on this list.
The rivalry between both clubs is based on a number of factors, including religious and social factors.
Celtic was founded by Irish Catholic immigrants in the late 19th century, while Rangers was founded by Scottish Protestants. This religious divide has been a source of tension between the two clubs for many years, with fans or supporters of both clubs often taking a sectarian stance.
Aside from its religious and political divide, the two clubs have faced each other over 400 times in official competitions, with Celtic holding a slight edge in the head-to-head record.
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11. Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur
- Nickname – The North London Derby
- Country – England
- First Met – 1909
- Highest Scoreline – 6-0 (Arsenal)
The North London derby first played in 1909 is a derby between two North London clubs, Arsenal vs Tottenham.
During their first match in 1909, no one ever knew that the derby will become so heated because back then, Arsenal had not moved from Woolwich district, which was southeast of London to Highbury in north London.
For the Spurs supporter, Arsenal moving into their neighborhood was not okay by them, especially when both stadiums were about 5 km apart.
However, since then, the club supporters have always been looking to when they play against their neighbors.
12. Benfica vs. Porto
- Nickname – O Clássico
- Country – Portugal
- First Met – 1912
- Highest Scoreline – 12-2 (Benfica)
Known as the O Clássico, the Benfica vs Porto rivalry is one of the biggest rivalries in soccer.
Similar to the El Clasico and the North West Derby, this rivalry is between two clubs based in Lisbon and Porto.
The two sides have a long-standing history of rivalry, which in some cases, has resulted in violence and other forms of physical assault on opposition fans and players.
It is one of the rivalries that has been defined by political and other external factors. Oftentimes, political chants have been heard on and off the pitch during the match.
However, despite these differences, the two clubs have faced each other over 230 times in official competitions, with Porto holding a slight edge in the head-to-head record.
13. AC Milan vs. Inter Milan
- Nickname – Derby della Madonnina
- Country – Italy
- First Met – 1909
- Highest Scoreline – 0-6 (AC Milan)
Last on our list of biggest rivalries in soccer history is the AC Milan vs Inter Milan rivalry.
Known as the Derby della Madonnina, the Milan rivalry has produced a lot of beautiful football moments.
As with other rivals, this rivalry is just a derby, amongst Milan clubs, although Inter Milan is based in the district of San Siro while AC Milan is based in the district of Porta Ticinese.
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The two clubs have faced each other over 220 times in official competitions, with AC Milan holding a slight edge in the head-to-head record.
Final Words
Rivalries in soccer have really helped shape the round leather game on all fronts and this post has outlined 13 of the biggest soccer rivalries in the world and at the club level. Do well to leverage the information that has been provided and also give your suggestion on possible great soccer rivalries that were not included.
Kenny is an experienced blogger and sports writer who majors in soccer articles amongst other trending niches. Do well to stay updated with his updates and that of his team of editors on Readsoccer.