One of the main reasons for football being the most popular sport in the world is the unmatched emotion it is able to evoke – from joy and passion to misery and outright heartbreak.
These emotions are seen nowhere more clearly than in the fiercest derbies and rivalries, where entire cities, friends and even families are divided by the undying support and loyalty to their respective clubs.
More than just three points is at stake when rivals meet, with the sense of unity, pride and identity of entire communities hanging on the balance of every pass, tackle and goal, often creating fierce and electric atmospheres.
Featuring some of the most legendary fixtures in the world, such as El Clasico and Derby della Madonnina, FootballGroundGuide takes a look at some of the biggest derbies in European football.
Celtic vs. Rangers – Old Firm
The Old Firm derby is more than just a football match, it is embedded within political, social and religious spheres, becoming deeply rooted in Scottish culture and history.
While both clubs are not themselves religious or political institutions, the two teams have become linked to opposing identities, which has led to a fierce and aggressive rivalry between them, even leading to restrictions on away allocations in recent years.
Celtic have been linked to Glasgow's Irish Catholic and Nationalist community, while Rangers are associated with the Protestant and Unionist communities, meaning this clash represents a cultural event as well as a football fixture.
Understandably, this has led to some of the most legendary and emotional atmospheres in world football.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid – El Clasico
El Clasico is arguably the most widely known and recognised club rivalry in football, matching two of the sport's titan clubs against one another.
Similarly to the Old Firm, however, it is more than just a meeting of clubs, with historical tension between central Spanish authority (Real Madrid) and Catalan identity (Barcelona).
The size of the derby has only grown thanks to the huge success of the two clubs, as well as iconic rivalries within the derby itself, most recently seeing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo consistently compete to become the best player in the world.
AC Milan vs. Inter Milan – Derby della Madonnina
Derby della Madonnina, also known as the Derby di Milano, is the name given to the clash between Milan's two biggest footballing teams, AC Milan and Inter Milan.
The derby first came about after the split of Milan Football Club in 1908 due to an internal disagreement regarding the signing of foreign players, leading to the foundation of Inter Milan – who broke away with the intention of creating a more international team.
Furthermore, AC Milan have traditionally attracted a more working-class following, with Inter Milan drawing more support from the city's ‘bourgeoisie', meaning there are further sociological subplots to the derby.
As both have also grown to become some of Italy and Europe's most successful clubs, this derby has only continued to grow in stature.
AS Roma vs. Lazio – Derby della Capitale
Staying in Italy, Derby della Capitalie, also known as the Derby di Roma, is the clash between Rome-based sides Lazio and Roma.
Lazio were originally founded in 1900 in the upper-class quarter of Rome, while Roma started playing in the working-class area of the city, leading to the Lazio supporters traditionally occupying the northern end and Roma supporters occupying the southern end of their shared stadium – the Stadio Olimpico.
The derby also carries social and political undercurrents, especially with the derby viewed as the two clubs fighting for the right to represent the city in the rest of the country.
As a result, this has historically been one of the most intense and heated derbies in European football, with several incidents of crowd trouble in and around the stadium and city.
Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce – Intercontinental Derby
The Intercontinental Derby is the football match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, widely perceived as the biggest match in Turkey between the country's two largest clubs.
The name comes from the fact that the two teams are actually housed in different continents, with Galatasaray based in Istanbul's European side, while Fenerbahce are based in the Asian side, meaning the two represent completely opposing cultures and social fabrics.
The derby has provided some of the fiercest and violent moments off the pitch, while it often provides huge entertainment on the field.
Manchester United vs. Liverpool – North West Derby
Unlike several of the derbies on this list, Manchester United vs. Liverpool is not an intra-city rivalry but instead an inter-city derby born from historical economic and industrial factors, as well as the major success of the two clubs.
Manchester United and Liverpool are the two most successful clubs in English football and are widely viewed as two of the biggest teams in world football, leading to this becoming a gargantuan clash.
The two have very rarely been on the same level throughout their history, with the power dynamic often shifting between the pair, but that has not stopped this derby from providing major upsets and entertainment.
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur – North London Derby
The North London derby is the clash between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, both of which are based in North London.
Meetings between these two teams have been some of the most viewed games in recent years, and they have become increasingly known for the fierce and fiery matches – often providing a throwback to a more physical era of the game, with crunching tackles and heated confrontations.
Arsenal have dominated the derby, especially in recent years, but that has only added to the hatred between the two sets of fans.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Marseille – Le Classique
Le Classique, also known as Le Derby de France, is the football rivalry between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille – widely regarded as the biggest match in French football.
There was little indication of a rivalry between the two in the early years following PSG's formation in 1970, but following PSG's first league title in 1986, this quickly grew into one of the biggest rivalries in European football.
Off the pitch, the matchup also carries social significance beyond the sport, often being framed as a contest between France's two biggest cities – Paris and Marseille – as well as the north versus south and centre of political power against the working class.
Partizan Belgrade vs. Red Star Belgrade – Eternal Derby
The Eternal Derby, otherwise known as the Belgrade Derby, is the meeting of city rivals Partizan Belgrade and Red Star Belgrade.
Like many of the other biggest rivalries in world football and sport, the derby emerged from political origins, specifically in post-World War II Yugoslavia.
Partizan were linked with the army (Yugoslav People's Army) and Red Star were linked with state institutions and civil authorities (United Alliance of Anti-Fascist Youth).
The derby is known to be one of the most intense and volatile in Europe, partly due to the ultra groups on both sides, with Grobari (Partizan) and Delije (Red Star) creating some of the most intimidating atmospheres that are simply unmatched in many leagues in the world.
Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos – Derby of Eternal Enemies
The Derby of Eternal Enemies, also known among fans as the Mother of All Battles, is the match contested between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos – teams from the two main cities in the major Athens urban area and the two most successful clubs in the country.
Traditionally, Panathinaikos are considered the representative of the high class of the Greek capital, while Olympiacos come from the port city of Piraeus, therefore attracting support from the surrounding working class areas.
While this social class split has closed over the years, the animosity that it originally created has remained, especially due to the proximity and success of the two clubs.
The Derby of Eternal Enemies has recently become known as one of the maddest matches in European football, including petrol bombs, flares, firecrackers, fights and fires – and that is just within the stadium.