1. Manchester United V Manchester City
First played in 1881 when West Gorton (who became Manchester City) played Newton Heath (who later became Manchester United) with Newton Heath winning the first meeting 3-0. In the last few years the match has taken on greater significance following Manchester City’s growth in stature with last season’s derby at City’s Etihad Stadium proving vital in city’s first Premier League title.
2. Boca Juniors V River Plate
Know throughout the world as the Superclásico. When these two teams meet all of Argentina comes to a standstill. Boca won the first meeting 2-1 in 1908 in a fixture known mostly for the passion of both sets of fans. After a match played in 1968 at River’s Monumental stadium 61 fans were killed following a crush at one of the gates in the stadium. This fixture is one of those things that every human must experience before they die.
3. Celtic V Rangers
Scottish football has been cruelly robbed of its most precious jewel following Rangers’ relegation to the third division in the summer. Despite this, the Old Firm clash remains one of the most historic and passionate games anywhere in the world. This game is not just a sporting rivalry, the fixture symbolizes religion and social ideology.
4. AC Milan V Inter Milan
The Milan Derby has been played since 1908 with the first meeting between the two giants coming in the Chiasso Cup in Switzerland. In the 60’s the fixture brought two of Italian football’s biggest stars face to face. Gianni Rivera of AC Milan faced Inter’s Sandro Mazzola as both clubs became two of European football’s true heavyweights. In all competitions the fixture has been played 293 times with Ac winning 111 times to Inter’s 105.
5. Partizan Belgrade V Red Star Belgrade
When these two teams meet in Belgrade it is war in the Eternal derby between Partizan and Red Star. Both clubs have a political history with Red Star formed by the United Alliance of Anti-Fascist Youth and Partizan by the Yugoslav People’s Army following the end of the Second World War. This is arguably the most hostile derby played anywhere in the world and for the uninitiated is a truly terrifying experience.
6. AS Roma V SS Lazio
Known in Italy as The Derby della Capitale the Rome derby is one of the loudest in Europe. The fixture has always been played out in front of huge crowds and is another game that needs to be experienced before you die. In 2004 with the scored locked at 0-0 the Roma ultra fans forced the game to be abandoned by spreading rumours around the stadium that a small child had been killed outside the stadium by police. News reached the pitch when three Ultras walked on to the pitch to tell Roma skipper Francesco Totti about the incident.
7. Gremio V Internacional
The Gre-Nal, as it is known, is the most passionate derby in Brazil with both fans well-known for their colourful displays. Gremio won the first 5 meetings with Internacional finally winning the fixture in 1915. The fixture brings all of Porto Alegre to a standstill with the city split in two on match days.
8. Liverpool V Everton
The Merseyside derby has become a particular highlight of the Premier League when Liverpool’s two most famous clubs go face to face. The two clubs have played out this fixture 219 times with Liverpool coming out on top winning 88 games compared to Everton’s 66. Everton hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in this fixture when between 1941 and 1951 they went 14 games without defeat against Liverpool.
9. Flamengo V Fluminense
Rio de Janeiro’s biggest club fixture is played out in the stunning Maracana stadium. Between 1960 and 1979 the fixture regularly saw crowds of well over 150,000 with the biggest crowd standing at 194,603 for a game in 1963. This is one of the most played matches in world football with 382 matches between the two teams. Flamengo head the head to head record winning 137 times to Fluminense’s 121.
10. Benfica V Sporting Lisbon
The derby de Lisboa is Portuguese football’s biggest club game. The fans of Sporting Lisbon represent the wealthy society of Lisbon while Benfica’s fans are largely made up of the working class communities of the city. The rivalry dates back to 1907 Sporting signed 8 players from city rivals Benfica. The rival also stretches to trophies with Benfica claiming 69 titles to Sporting’s 45.
