No fixtures stir emotion quite like football’s biggest derbies.
There is far more than three points at stake when rivals collide in contests shaped by history, geography and social tension.
Few countries embody that passion quite like Italy, where iconic domestic rivalries thrive on drama and symbolism – reflecting culture, memory and tribal pride.
Here, FootballGroundGuide takes a closer look at some of the biggest derbies and rivalries in Italian football.
AC Milan vs Inter Milan – Derby della Madonnina
Derby della Madonnina, also known as the Derby di Milano, is the name given to the iconic matchup between Milan's two biggest footballing clubs – AC Milan and Inter Milan.
Once divided by class – Milan traditionally attracted a more working-class following while Inter drew more support from the city's ‘bourgeoisie' – both teams still take pride in sharing the same home stadium – San Siro.
This derby rich in history has been played out 245 times in all competitions (as of February 2026), with 20-time Serie A winners Inter claiming 91 wins to Milan’s 83, with the remaining 71 matches ending in a draw.
AS Roma vs Lazio – Derby della Capitale
Another iconic Italian rivalry is Derby della Capitalie, also known as the Derby di Roma, which is staged between the capital’s two biggest clubs – Roma and Lazio.
Widely regarded as the most intense and heated match in Italian football, rooted in the political and social divide of 1920s Rome, this derby truly ignited when Roma was formed through a merger of three local teams almost three decades after Lazio was founded.
Like the Milan giants, Roma and Lazio share the same stadium – Stadio Olimpico – and these two teams have played 188 times against each other in all tournaments, with I Giallorossi winning 71 times to I Biancocelesti's 51, while 64 draws have also been played out.
Juventus vs Inter Milan – Derby d’Italia
The Derby d’Italia is considered a legendary Italian rivalry between two powerhouses in Juventus and Inter Milan, two of the country’s most successful clubs both domestically and continentally.
The ‘Derby of Italy’ – a term coined by journalist Gianni Brera in 1967 – is not like traditional derbies between teams within the same town or city, but is instead built on a national-scale clash of power, prestige and regional pride between Turin (where Juve are based) and Milan.
Across 255 official meetings since their first encounter back in November 1909, Juventus have celebrated 114 victories, while Inter have prevailed 79 times, with 62 matches ending in a draw.
Juventus vs Torino – Derby della Mole
The Derby della Mole between Juventus and Torino, also known as the Turin Derby, is the oldest ongoing intra-city rivalry in Italian football, first contested in January 1907.
This rivalry originated from a split within Juventus (founded in 1897) when its former president, Alfred Dick, left to help found Torino in 1906, establishing a lasting divide between the two clubs.
Derby della Mole was named after Mole Antonelliana, a landmark building that serves as the architectural symbol of Turin.
Juve and Torino have butted heads a total of 213 times across all competitions, with the former dominating this fixture with 96 wins, while Il Toro have come out on top 58 times. The remaining 59 games have ended in a draw.
Genoa vs Sampdoria – Derby della Lanterna
Sampdoria may be competing outside the top flight at present, but their rivalry with Genoa is still considered one of the biggest and fiercest in Italian football.
Known as Derby della Lanterna, the name derives from the Torre della Lanterna, the city's historic lighthouse that sits between the two clubs' historical home territories. While Genoa was founded in 1893 as Italy’s first football club, Sampdoria were formed over half a century later in 1946 following the merger of Andrea Doria and Sampierdarenese.
Sampdoria have locked horns with Genoa a total of 106 times in their current form and have celebrated 40 victories, while Il Rossoblu have come out on top just 26 times, with the remaining 40 games ending as a draw.
Napoli vs Roma – Derby del Sole
This southern versus central Italian clash between Napoli and Roma is known as Derby del Sole and was once renowned for its unique ‘gemellagio’ (twinning) or ‘brotherhood’ between the two fanbases, but that friendly bond was shattered over three decades ago.
Indeed, this derby has been charged with a fiery and volatile intensity ever since an offensive gesture (the gesto dell'ombrello) by Napoli midfielder Salvatore Bagni was aimed toward Roma fans in 1987. Several violent clashes, and even the death of a 29-year-old supporter in 2014, have followed.
Across 181 competitive matches since their first meeting in April 1928, Roma narrowly edge te head-to-head record with 66 victories to Napoli’s 55 times, while there have also been 60 draws played out.
Palermo vs Catania – Derby di Sicilia
The Sicilian Derby (Derby di Sicilia) is an intense intra-island rivalry between Palermo and Catania, representing the two largest cities in Sicily.
This rivalry is deeply rooted in regional identity and socio-economic competition, with Palermo historically serving as the island’s administrative capital and Catania as its industrial hub.
This fixture gained international notoriety in February 2007 following the tragic death of police officer Filippo Raciti during fan riots in Catania, which led to a temporary suspension of all Italian football.
Palermo have won 26 times and Catania have been victorious 20 times across 85 meetings (also 39 draws). However, these two teams have only ever faced each other 10 times in Serie A, with Palermo currently competing in Serie B and Catania in Serie C.
Atalanta BC vs Brescia – Derby Lombardo
Derby Lombardo between Atalanta BC and Brescia Calcio is one of Italy's most explosive rivalries, rooted in a territorial dispute dating all the way back to the 12th century.
The animosity began in 1126 when Bergamo purchased land that Brescia claimed as its own, leading to centuries of skirmishes. In modern times, this ‘900-year feud’ is defined by fierce local pride and high-intensity battles between the two industrial centres of Lombardy, located just 50km apart.
Second-tier Brescia last played against Atalanta in July 2020, but they do at least boast a slightly better head-to-head record in this fixture, winning 28 times to La Dea’s 24, with the remaining 26 matches ending in a draw.