When there is more on the line than three points, when the opposition's supporters sing insults at your team in unisen, when the whole world stops for 90 minutes to watch two teams duke it out for battle scars and bragging righst, we have a derby on our hands. Not just any derby, I'm talking about the best of them. I'm talking about the matches that turn all heads torward the same pitch. The matches grandparents tell children about. A match for the ages, instant classics, changes in power, and legendary goals. Only a couple derbies in the world possess these kinds of powers. I'm here with 3 of my favorites to break them down, throw out a little history, and guess who is coming out on top this year.
AC Milan vs Inter Milan
Did this feud start because the two sides are in the same city or is their something more to this derby? Well for a matter of fact, there is. AC Milan was originally founded by British imigrants just before the turn of the century in 1899. At the time, only English players could be part of the club (maybe this is why Beckham was such a hit). Obviously, being an Italian based club, that infuriated many people. Protesters had enough of the all English nonsense and formed Internazionale, which is more commonly known as Inter Milan. The two clubs have been at it ever since. They have met 270 times when including all competions. The results are as fallowed. AC Milan have 106 wins, Internationale has 92 wins, and the side has drawn 72 times. For now, the Rossoneri, which translates to red and black, have the slight edge over their cross town rivals in derbies but who is more successful? Last season was a staple for the Nerazurri (black and blue) as they clinched their 17th league title, one more than rivals AC Milan has in their history. They are even on Coppa Italia's at 5 but AC Milan has really out-done Inter in Europe. The Rossoneri has totaled 7 European Cups, second only to Real Madrid, compared to Inter's 2. So yes over the course of history, letting the European Cups be the deciding factor, AC Milan has been better overall. Of course Inter could make the protest that they were established 9 years after Milan, but their was no European Cup between 1899 and 1908 and if their was it would be a bold statement to make saying they would have won it 5 times in 9 years. I didn't say it was impossible cause we've seen crazier things, but unlikely nontheless. Both sides play in Milan's famous San Siro. It is an awefully tense atmosphere at the derby I wouldn't dare say both teams are playing at home. It's more of both teams are playing away. Milan's most hardcore supporters, Fossa dei Leoni, are found at at the infamous "Gate 17", or more commonly known as "The Lions Den." Inter fans are known as the Boys SAN. One way to look at it is, Milan is the Red, Inter is the Blue, and they are fighting over the Black. Let me tell you the tale of Mazzola vs Rivera. Sandro Mazzola was an Internazionale playmaker in the 1960s. Gianni Rivera was the same sort of player but for Milan at the same time. Milan had tremendous success during this time. However, there still seemed to be a kind of rivarly between the clubs over which player was better. They hardly ever played side by side for the Italian National team, often being substituted for one another. National team coach Ferruccio Valcareggi started Mazzola over Milan's Rivera, depite his nickname "Golden Boy," in the 1970 World Cup Final against Brazil. Italy lost the match 4-1 to Pele and company and Rivera did not appear until the 88th minute. It is said by many if Rivera would have been in the place of Mazzola, Italy would have another star next to the national team badge. In recent years the Milan Derby, also known as the Derby della Madonnina, has been pretty even. The last 5 meetings between the clubs have issued out one draw and two wins a piece. What should we expect from the next derby? There have been dramatic changed at Milan this summer, losing a coach of 8 years in Ancelotti, Beckham, reuturning to the L.A. Galaxy and Brazilian Kaka to Real Madrid. Inter have strengthened their team with Bayern Munchen's Lucio. However, as of the last week, Ibrahimovic has been linked with Barcelona. Over the last four years Inter has been the stronger team overall. If I had to predict a winner I'd go with the Nerazzurri.
Did this feud start because the two sides are in the same city or is their something more to this derby? Well for a matter of fact, there is. AC Milan was originally founded by British imigrants just before the turn of the century in 1899. At the time, only English players could be part of the club (maybe this is why Beckham was such a hit). Obviously, being an Italian based club, that infuriated many people. Protesters had enough of the all English nonsense and formed Internazionale, which is more commonly known as Inter Milan. The two clubs have been at it ever since. They have met 270 times when including all competions. The results are as fallowed. AC Milan have 106 wins, Internationale has 92 wins, and the side has drawn 72 times. For now, the Rossoneri, which translates to red and black, have the slight edge over their cross town rivals in derbies but who is more successful? Last season was a staple for the Nerazurri (black and blue) as they clinched their 17th league title, one more than rivals AC Milan has in their history. They are even on Coppa Italia's at 5 but AC Milan has really out-done Inter in Europe. The Rossoneri has totaled 7 European Cups, second only to Real Madrid, compared to Inter's 2. So yes over the course of history, letting the European Cups be the deciding factor, AC Milan has been better overall. Of course Inter could make the protest that they were established 9 years after Milan, but their was no European Cup between 1899 and 1908 and if their was it would be a bold statement to make saying they would have won it 5 times in 9 years. I didn't say it was impossible cause we've seen crazier things, but unlikely nontheless. Both sides play in Milan's famous San Siro. It is an awefully tense atmosphere at the derby I wouldn't dare say both teams are playing at home. It's more of both teams are playing away. Milan's most hardcore supporters, Fossa dei Leoni, are found at at the infamous "Gate 17", or more commonly known as "The Lions Den." Inter fans are known as the Boys SAN. One way to look at it is, Milan is the Red, Inter is the Blue, and they are fighting over the Black. Let me tell you the tale of Mazzola vs Rivera. Sandro Mazzola was an Internazionale playmaker in the 1960s. Gianni Rivera was the same sort of player but for Milan at the same time. Milan had tremendous success during this time. However, there still seemed to be a kind of rivarly between the clubs over which player was better. They hardly ever played side by side for the Italian National team, often being substituted for one another. National team coach Ferruccio Valcareggi started Mazzola over Milan's Rivera, depite his nickname "Golden Boy," in the 1970 World Cup Final against Brazil. Italy lost the match 4-1 to Pele and company and Rivera did not appear until the 88th minute. It is said by many if Rivera would have been in the place of Mazzola, Italy would have another star next to the national team badge. In recent years the Milan Derby, also known as the Derby della Madonnina, has been pretty even. The last 5 meetings between the clubs have issued out one draw and two wins a piece. What should we expect from the next derby? There have been dramatic changed at Milan this summer, losing a coach of 8 years in Ancelotti, Beckham, reuturning to the L.A. Galaxy and Brazilian Kaka to Real Madrid. Inter have strengthened their team with Bayern Munchen's Lucio. However, as of the last week, Ibrahimovic has been linked with Barcelona. Over the last four years Inter has been the stronger team overall. If I had to predict a winner I'd go with the Nerazzurri.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
Where do I even begin when it comes this bloody affair? Catalonia vs the mainland Spain. As a Madridista, I'm going to do my best to state the facts and stay away from biasness. You can trace this rivalry back to when Spain was run by dictator Francisco Franco from 1939 to 1975. Franco frowned up Eastern Spain's region of Catalonia. He was stubborn and wanted Spain to be a united country. Because the Catalonians had their own language and a seperate culture than the rest of Spain, they were a target for Franco's criticism. The Catalan's often liked to support their way of life through football at Barcelona. Barcelona adopted the motto "Mes que un Club" which translates to "more than a club." Franco supported Real Madrid. Of course, being in Madrid, there is a pretty good chance you are a Real Madrid fan. They are one of the most supported clubs in the world. Nowadays, just under half of the entire Spanish population supports Real Madrid. In the early 1930s Catalonia along with a few other regions wish to exercise their right to autonomy, to stand as individuals, which started the conflict that enventually lead to the Spanish Civil War. They formed the C.E.D.A. (Confederacion Espanol de Derechas Autonomas). The dictator's goal was to fight for the country of Spain and bring all of its people back together under one language, one rule, on identity. The Republicanos headed by Franco, were supported by Mexico and the Soviet Union. The Nacionales, supporters of the rebellion, and C.E.D.A were teamed with Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany. In the end, in the year 1939, Franco's Army over took Catalonia. The Catalans have never forgiven the capital for this. Catalonia had the right to autonomize by law, but the government wanted to unite it's people under one powerful regime. Despite having a dictator in the Spanish Capital, the influence of anarchism and communism that appears in Spains history started primarily in Catalonia. Presidents of both Real Madrid and Barcelona suffered losses at the hands of the nacionales. Both sides, in a way, were fighting for what was right, just not what the other wanted. This feud started one of the greatest football derbies of all time, El Clasico. The two sides have met a total of 158 times. Stats stand with 68 wins for Real Madrid, 60 wins for Barcelona, and 30 draws between the two. Los Blancos or the Merengue have performed ever so slightly better in El Clasico but the rivary does not stop there. The Copa del Rey has been dominated by the Blaugrana. They have 25 compared to Madrid's 17. However, Real Madrid has been more succesful in the league, claiming 31 to Barca's 19. Barcelona took down what was said to be one of the greatest sides ever, last season's Manchester United in the Champions League Final, when they went on to be the first ever Spanish side to win the treble. Barcelona have tallied up 3 European Cups in their history, 2 in the last 4 years. Real Madrid have the most European Cups of any team at 9. The most recent arriving in Madrid in 2002. Remeber earlier in the artical when I mentioned "crazier things have happened" when I noted the possibility of Inter Milan winning 5 European cups in 9 years? Well this is one of those crazier things. Real Madrid won the very first 5 European Cups back to back. Helping them triumph was Real Madrid great, Alfredo Di Stefano. The Argentine born player is often disputed because he originally signed for both clubs, finally choosing Real Madrid. Bad blood remains between these two sides to this very day. One of the most controversial transfers ever in football occured in 2000 when Portugese winger, Luis Figo, transfered directly from Barcelona to the capital. In a recent FourFourTwo interview, Figo said that Barcelona and him had no problems except for the fact that they did not want to pay him a fair ammount of money. He said Barcelona thought he was joking about transfering to Real Madrid. Obviously not as the winger made the move and enjoyed many successes at the Bernabeu. He was greeted at the Nou Camp by having a pigs head thrown at him from the stands when Barca hosted Real Madrid the next season. If you are looking for a prediction out of me here you won't get one. The match is almost impossible to predict at this given time, but as a Real Madrid supporter, I'll be behind los blancos at all times.
Paris St. Germain vs Olympique Marseille
This rivalry doesn't date back decades in history. It's not really that old at all. I mean Paris St. Germain or better known as PSG were only established in 1970. There is no massive, violent, political conflict or an exclusive club only kind of deal either. So what causes such a stir up between these two sides? This hatred is simply football related. In the 1988-1989 season, the two teams were tied at 70 going into the last match day. Their opponents? Eachother. The match was even at 0-0 up until the last five minutes of play when Marseille's Franck Suazee slammed one home with a blast from outside the area giving Marseille the title. That title was the first of five in a row for OM (although the 5th of which was stripped for a scandle). The Paris based club was crushed. I could never live down a loss like that and they haven't either. The rivalry is often times violent when supporters get to into it. I remember several years back, one of of the teams bus was attacked and a player said he had feared for his life. I watched the derby a couple years ago on TV and Marseille sent their reserves and youth players to play the derby to ensure the safety of their first team footballers. The game ended in a draw and the PSG fans were not best pleased. Violent crowd stories plague this football match, and it looks like they always will unfortunately. The two rivals have met 71 times and have been fairly evenly matched. OM has 28 wins, PSG has 25 wins and there are 18 draws between them. However, Marseille's history topples the Paris based club. OM has 8 leagues to PSG's 2, 10 French Cups to PSG's 6, and 1 European cup to PSG's 0. In all fairness to the Parisian club, Olympique Marseille was established 73 years before PSG. Paris St. Germain enjoyed some fun against Marseille with Brazilian Ronaldinho, before the PSG coach Luis Fernandez claimed Ronaldinho was too into the party life and his Brazilian holidays never ended when he thought they would. After two years with the club, Ronaldinho left for Barcelona. Marseille have traditionally just been all around better than PSG, and even though I fancy the Paris based club over the South of France's OM. The light blues have a stronger side and should handle PSG this year in the Classique.
Those are some of my favorite derbies. I hope you enjoyed them as much as me. Lots of history comes along when football is in a conversation. Never forget where we came from but let us strive for a brilliant future.
Viva el futbol y Hala Madrid
Bobby
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