French football has never lacked passion, but when it comes to derbies, everything feels sharper; the tempo rises, tackles mean more, and the margins grow thinner.
From fierce city rivalries to regional battles shaped by history, these matches are about far more than three points, with pride and bragging rights always at stake.
France is home to several iconic derbies, but a few truly stand above the rest. Some of these rivalries spill out of city limits to divide entire regions, while others have been forged in the heat of title races, where the country’s giants clash for national supremacy.
Here is a closer look at some of the biggest rivalries in French football.
Le Classique: Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique de Marseille
Widely regarded as the biggest rivalry in French football, Le Classique pits Paris Saint-Germain against Olympique de Marseille. Although it is not the oldest derby in the country, the contest has grown into the most high-profile and emotionally charged fixture in France.
Unlike regional rivalries built purely on geography, this one was forged by a clash of identities. Paris represents the political and economic heart of the nation, while Marseille carries the gritty, defiant pride of the Mediterranean south.
Having first met in 1971, the rivalry truly intensified during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when both clubs were competing for domestic supremacy.
Marseille dominated French football at the time, even conquering Europe, while PSG were emerging as a growing force backed by significant investment. As both sides battled for titles and national relevance, the fixture quickly became the defining clash in Ligue 1.
Over the years, the balance of power has shifted. Marseille enjoyed their golden era first, while PSG’s sustained dominance in the Qatari-backed era has tilted the head-to-head record firmly in favour of the Parisians.
In the 112 meetings between the two clubs – at time of writing – Les Parisiens have won 55 times, while Marseille have posted 36 victories, with 22 ending in stalemates.
Choc des Olympiques: Olympique Lyonnais vs. Olympique de Marseille
While Le Classique usually grabs the national headlines for its drama, the Choc des Olympiques is often where the best football actually happens.
Pitting France’s two most decorated “Olympique” clubs against each other, this rivalry was built on a decades-long fight to see who is the true king of the provinces.
The broadcaster Canal+ famously branded this the “Olympico,” which was a marketing nod to Spain’s El Clasico, and the name stuck because the stakes usually deserve the hype.
The rivalry really caught fire in the late 1980s, with Marseille being the early bully, highlighted by a 7–0 thrashing of Lyon in 1991 while they were on their way to winning the 1993 European Cup.
However, the pendulum swung back hard. After OM’s mid-90s struggles, Lyon secured an emphatic 8–0 victory over Le Phoceens in 1997, which remains the heaviest winning margin in the fixture's history.
Meanwhile, there are other notable fixtures, including a 5–5 draw in 2009, which is widely considered the greatest game in Ligue 1 history.
As of February 28, 2026, the two sides are neck-and-neck in the record books. Across 127 total meetings, Lyon holds a razor-thin lead with 44 wins to Marseille’s 41, with 42 draws.
Derby du Rhone: Olympique Lyonnais vs AS Saint-Etienne
A rivalry shaped by geography, Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Etienne are both based in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region, with their cities separated by barely 50 kilometres, and that short distance has long fuelled one of France’s oldest and fiercest regional feuds.
The fixture is often framed as a clash of contrasting identities: the perceived white-collar affluence of Lyon against the proud, blue-collar industrial roots of Saint-Etienne.
Both clubs rank among the heavyweights of French football, with more than 20 major domestic honours each, although their periods of dominance arrived in different eras.
During the latter half of the 20th century, Saint-Etienne were the team to beat, winning 10 league titles between 1957 and 1981. That record stood for four decades before it was eventually surpassed by Paris Saint-Germain in 2023.
Lyon’s golden age began at the turn of the millennium; their first Ligue 1 title arrived in 2002 and sparked an unprecedented run of seven consecutive championships, a feat that remains a benchmark in the modern era.
In recent seasons, both sides have faced fresh challenges, with Lyon struggling to rediscover their former domestic authority, while Saint-Etienne have battled relegation and financial strain. Despite this, the Derby du Rhone continues to stir deep emotion among supporters on both sides.
At the time of writing, the clubs have met 126 times, and the head-to-head record is finely balanced: Lyon have claimed 48 victories, Saint-Etienne 45, with 33 matches ending level.
Their first encounter took place on October 28, 1951, in a 4–2 win for Lyon, with Frederic Woehl scoring the opening goal in what would become one of French football’s defining rivalries.
Le Derby de la Cote d’Azur: AS Monaco vs OGC Nice
Another rivalry shaped by proximity, Monaco and Nice are separated by barely 20 kilometres along the Mediterranean coastline.
The two sides have shared many seasons together in the top flight, including a continuous spell from 2002 to 2011, and both boast proud histories. Nice have won four league titles and three domestic cups, while Monaco have claimed eight championships and five cups, underlining their status as major forces in French football.
The dynamic between the clubs has often added an extra edge, with Monaco’s financial strength and regular presence in European competition making them the dominant side in many head-to-head meetings, something that has only intensified the competitive fire from Nice.
The fixture reached another level during the 2016–17 season, when both sides were in the thick of the Ligue 1 title race, with Monaco eventually coming out on top.
As of February 2026, the clubs have met 130 times in all competitions. Monaco hold the upper hand with 58 victories, while Nice have won 37, and 35 matches have ended in draws.
Derby du Nord: RC Lens vs Lille OSC
Also influenced by geographical location, the Derby du Nord is contested by two of the biggest clubs in northern France, separated by roughly 40 kilometres. Lens are based in Pas-de-Calais, while Lille sit in the neighbouring Nord department.
The first meeting between the two cities came in 1937, when Lille were still competing under the Olympique Lillois name, and for decades, the derby carried a clear social undertone.
Lens developed a reputation as a proud, working-class, industrial city, rooted in its mining heritage. Lille, on the other hand, was viewed as more middle-class, modern and outward-looking, though those distinctions have softened in recent years.
Both clubs have enjoyed success, though Lille’s trophy cabinet is the fuller of the two, having claimed four Ligue 1 titles and six Coupe de France crowns, along with domestic and European honours, including a UEFA Intertoto Cup. Lens, meanwhile, lifted their sole Ligue 1 title in 1997–98 and have also tasted cup success and European competition.
At the time of writing, both sides have met 122 times in all competitions. Lille hold a slight advantage with 48 wins, compared to Lens’ 38, while 36 matches have ended level.