Planet Soccer

arsenal - tottenham!! pure hatred between them just not much competition and i speak from the white and blue side!

A country's passion for football will definately show in a derby. After watching the London derby, Arsenal v. Chelsea, I feel that there was definite passion. I could barely hear the announcers at points due to the screaming fans. One of my football games of the year.

To answer the question of the most passionate I'll have to settle with my roots. The Glasgow derby wins my vote. The Scottish seem to have an unnatural pride which breeds passion. It shows heavily in a Rangers v. Celtic bout.

You'll never walk alone! You'll never walk alone!!

I think the Derby D'Italia will be the one to watch next year.

Once Juventus is back in Serie A next season, I think every one will be waiting for the Juve-Inter match-up.

I know nothing sickens me more then to see Inter with the Scudetto patch on their uniform, "defending" their title.

Can't wait to see Juve playing them, especially if Ibrahimovic and Vieira are still with Inter.

Although not a high profile derby like in London, the atmosphere around Newcastle United vs. Sunderland is incredible!

Definitely Boca vs River in BS Aires. The whole southern continent follows the game. There is no Brazilian clasico that is followed as intensely in the rest of the spanish speaking countries. An up and coming clasico is the eastern Bolivian clasico of Oriente Petrolero vs Blooming. Have had the pleasure to be at a couple and they are a great spectacle.

I was born and raised a Newcastle United fan. There is nothing in the world than compares to Newcastle versus Sunderland.

Though not between two teams from the same city the Croatian derby featuring rivals Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split in the Croatian First League is known as much for the raging battles between fans as well as the fierce football played on the pitch. The cars of rival supporters have been known to end up in the Adriatic sea.

It is by far the Lazio - Roma derby! Lazio are the best and gave Roma a big thrashing! roma were lucky not to get at least 1 red card if not 2 so they should count themselves lucky it wasnt more! It is a very passionate derby with alot of pressure aswell on every player to perform - but the boys in blue showed them how its done! Also it was such a delight watching totti annoyed and frustrated :D !!!! Forza Lazio!!!!

I would have to say that my favorite derby match is Barcelona vs Real Madrid; two of the best teams in Europe, and the world for that matter. They clash twice every year and every time it gets better and better!

I think the North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham is the best, as there is underlying class war and even racial hatred that "Spurs" it on. However, the Belgrade derby did start a war, and I am not sure what other sporting events can make that claim.

Celtic v Rangers. Period.

Olympiakos vs Panathinaikos, the calibre of play may not be the best in Europe but the passion/slash hatred of the opposing fans is pure insanity!

One of the oldest battles on the football pitch. Everton vs Liverpool!!! Everton all the way.

It would have to be Rangers vs Celtic. There is always so much at stake and with the religious origins of the classic derby it would have to make in #1.

The Celtic-Rangers derby transends football and involves hatred of not only football. Truly bitter and brutal stuff! It also helps that traditionally these two teams are at the top of the table. This can't be said of many of the derbys mentioned.

Definetely the best derby out there has to be Inter Milan vs AC Milan . The last game which ended 4-3 was a dandy! And last weekend Rome-Lazio derby had a good atmosphere but the party is at the San Siro.

I can't say what is the best derby match because any answer is open to debate - except claiming that Juve-Inter is the best.

Judging from your tone and the mention of returning players. I will assume that you are referring to the match which will be played next season in Turin.

There are several prerequisites for a derby match. The most notable of which is having fans who show up for your matches. Last year, according to ESPN Soccernet, the attendance in Turin for the match was 33,772 out of 67,229 available seats or 50.2% of capacity. Admittedly the attendance in Milan was 79,000 (their highest that year) but that was the only time in the last four seasons when the attendance of Inter-Juventus was their highest Serie A attendance (and it was a 1 vs. 2 match late in the season).

Merely being bitter because your team acted unethically in the pursuit of winning by intimidating referees and used its leverage to influence how prospective players played for other teams does not suggest that it deserved said Scudetto - Unless you think that Juventus truly was the best team last year and that there was nothing wrong by acting in that manner then I apologize because I've clearly been out of line.

rangers versus celtic is by far the most passionate game in the soccer world, i have been to many and the noise of the crowd is amazing , just sheer hatred for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the game, just an amazing experience to see one of these games .

Definitly Portsmouth v Southampton. The atmosphere at Fratton Park is awesome. Thankfully Southampton are back in their rightful place down in the Championship while Pompey are near the top in the Premiership!

Rangers v. Celtic is difficult to top due it's non-sporting connotations. As an Arsenal supporter, I enjoy the matchup with Spurs of course. Some of the others above though, Newcastle - Sunderland? Portsmouth - Southampton? These teams don't even play each other most years as they aren't in the same league. How can that be the best derby? I don't dispute that the rivalry is great but don't you think playing EVERY year has some significance when rating the best derby? Also, someoone mentioned Barca - R. Madrid. To be a derby they have to be in the same city!

Milan derby is far and away the most outstanding spectacle in sports today.

as a canadian who has been living in barcelona for the past few years i really must say that in regards to ël clasico¨ the best one would be barça against real madrid...the derby with español and barça doesnt really bring any true emotion. although arsenal and chelsea is always great fun, and above all, very physical.

i am sory but all of you r wrong guys.the best and biggest soccer derby is galasaray and fenerbahce in the world.one of them is from asian side in istanbul and other one is in european side.they hate each other much and they fight with each other all time.
they all tease with each other and some of guys who r loyal to their team too much;they dont marry to a girl who support other team.
i dont lie,the web cite says:
Fenerbahce - Galatasaray 8.5
Boca Juniors - River Plate 8.3
Celtic FC - Rangers FC 8.3
Palmeiras - Corinthians 8.3
http://www.footballderbies.com/
as you see,the best derby

Rangers-Celtic, without a doubt.
Even as a neutral, it makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.
The intensity of the singing and chanting that goes on, before and during the game, is unmatched anywhere.

galatasaray vs fenerbahce is a derby were the play is just average but when and if able to ever attend it live...the atmosphere in the stadium purely unbelievable. It is just insane...

the most energetic and passionate rivalry in european football that i have seen is Ajax - Feyenoord

As a Canadian who worked in Greece for several years, I have to say that the fanaticism of Panathinaikos vs Olympiakos is second to none. The atmosphere is hostile both on and off the pitch and street battles are commonplace before and after the games.

Geordies vs Mackums is #1 on my UK list but I would have to say that Boca vs. River is by far, hands down the most passionate derby in the world. Having lived in BA the whole place shuts down and the fans are unbelievably fanatical! The match is almost more about class divisions then football. I only wish that Canada had a tenth of this energy at hockey, maybe the crowd would come up with a more interesting song to sing then "go leafs go" Still hoping and wanting for that day to come.....

In terms of passion it must be Rangers- Celtic. In terms of quality of play AND passion, it must be Real Madrid-Barca

How about West Ham vs Chelsea? After all those good young players (eg - Lampard) jumped ship to Chelski, West Ham fans, known for their loutishness, have HATED Chelsea. It doesn't hurt that West Ham is half-decent again.

Celtic vs Rangers. Of coarse. Celtic was formed by a Priest for the poor Irish immigrants in Glasgow and thus the "Old Firm" Derby has meant great triumphs for those people.Something to be proud of.

i think the best derby yet is chelsea-tottenham and even chelsea-manu. whenever chelsea and spurs play, its wicked atmospehere. chelsea-manu you all can guess why so. another one that is up and coming is chelsea-liverpool. chelsea all the way.

Ah HELLLOOOOOO!!!!

Everyone on the planet knows the best derby ever is the Kentucky Derby. DAH.

Other than that, If you haven't seen Real Madrid play against Barcelona you havent seen a real football match...

Madrid - Barca? Well, only if you consider the past two years when Barcelona finally got their act together and produced a great team.

No THE DERBY here in Spain is clear:

Deportivo de La Coruña vs. Real Madrid AT RIAZOR stadium.

Madrid hasn't won a game here in 17 years, and this match has become historic. People say the lowly city of Coruña only remain in 1st Division so they can Play that ONE GAME against the Mighty Madrid.

A City of 250,000 vs. 5 million. David and Goliath Football. Every game is a spectacle.
I won't be surprised if they lose on January 6th 2007 the owners of RM buy out the stadium RIAZOR so they can close it before the 20th Anniversary defeat of their all-the-money-in-the-world-you-can-buy-a-team approach...

The Sunderland Newcastle derby is by the best derby in the world. If you doo't belive me you will definatley have to go to one yourself. The crowds are deffining any singing and chanting is non stop through the whole game. The stadium of light is a fantastic place to see this. It is a superb stadium and the fans are the most loyal in the world. Maccums til i die!! Ho'way lads

Never having been to Scotland or England I can only go by what I see here in the Scottish people that have (to our benefit) decided to call Canada home. And the passions you speak of in the Glasgow Derbys anyway have nothing to do with the passion for the game.
It's all about religeon in glasgow. I have friends from both sides of that one that can show you the darts they were hit with. The scars from being hit by 2 pense coins. Thats not a passion for the game as much as it is hatred for the other people.

The "Old Firm" lads, thats the real deal. Gers and Hoops. Hibs and Hearts ain't half bad. But the old firm is the best because in most years the wins and loses decide who wins the SPL. Dont get me wrong they are all great, but to me this is the pinnicle.

Sporting vs Benfica in Portugal.....paixao!

forget any english derby everyone knows the rangers v celtic derby is not only the biggest in britain but greatest in the world the atmosphere passion and because of the religous aspect it has stands it apart from any other. anyone who has the chance to go to one do it. red white and blue green white and gold very colourful. go on the rangers loyal to the core.WE ARE THE PEOPLE

Some very good and notable derbies mentioned. However, I wouldn't say that any one fabled rivalry has brownie points over another simply because of what underlies it socially or politically - the notable rivalries all do!
But!...if there are any particular derbies that I would gladly pay premium fee just to be in the stands for its the following:

Celtic v. Rangers
Real Madrid v. Barcelona
Boca v. River Plate
Arsenal v. Tottenham
Benfica v. Porto
AC Milan v. Juventus
PSV Eindhoven v. Ajax Amsterdam
Santos v. Cruzeiro
Dynamo Moscow v. CSKA Moscow

Culture, class, race and religion all factor in those mentioned. I can assure you that there will be more battling in the stands and streets then on the pitch in any of those games.

river vs boca is by far the most intense and best derby in the world. there is no rival to this classic. they talk this game weeks before it is played, and continues for weeks after it ends. go river go!

Partizan vs. Zvezda

Unquestionably the ultimate derby is Boca Junior River Plate.

There is no Derby like the super classico between River Plate and Boca Juniors. Until you have seen these two teams battle you have not truely witnessed a Derby.

Sorry guys, the best I've ever seen.

Lazio - Roma

Rangers V Celtic Obv The Best Match In The World The Athmopher Is Amazing Trust Me U dont Even Need Drink Cause The Buzz U get From An Old Firm Is Otta This World So Mutch Hatered Its Unbalvable.

There are many great rivalries but one of the best I've seen is the Serie A (sometimes B) derby Catania - Palermo. It includes all the ingredients, even insulting the patron saint of each other's city.
Viva Sant'Agata!

olympiakos-Panathinaikos is insane. It is definatley the most passionate and one of the most violent.The whole stadium turns bright red with flares. amazing

Stuttgart vs. Freiburg for sure!!!
The Schwabs vs. the Badners. Their state in germany was made to amalgamate in the 60's and the capital was moved to Stuttgart. The people of Baden have never forgotten and the conflict is played out every time these teams manage to mee.

Milan derby hands down!

Even as a Southampton fan, I can't really say that the Saints--Pompey one is the most passionate.

Realistically, anyone who can set aside their partisanship for two minutes and look at it objectively ALWAYS comes to the conclusion that the Glasgow Old Firm (Rangers v Celtic) is the most passionate - period.

I watch from afar but Boca Juniors-River Plate get my adrenaline going more than any other derby

There are several Derbys that are actually interesting, since im a fan of Inter i have to say the fued between city rivals ac Milan is tops, and we cant forget the crazy derby between AS Roma and lazio, those fans are nuts!! fight always breaks out. but if you look around in europe other derbys which I think would probably be good is Celtic vs Rangers and probably Boca vs River Plate and of course Barca vs Real

Obviously Everton v Liverpool.
Every game contested in the the top flight for over 100 years.
Even 100,000 at Wembley for charity shield.
Unlike Arsenal V Tottenham a couple of years later.Check out that attendance !.

BOCA JUNIORS AND RIVER PLATE !!!
THE BEST OF THE BEST
BEST SOCCER ,FANS,WOMAN,BEER,ETC BEAUTIFUL

Guys what about the Soweto Derby (Chiefs-Pirates...yes some of you know them), or the the Cairo derby...these two derbies ALWAYS(without fail) attracts more than 100 000 fans to their respective games.

Marseille vs. PSG
Fulham vs. Chelsea
Flamengo vs. Fluminese

Moorfield Over 60'sLadies Bingo & Social Club
Versus
Moorfield Over 60's Mens Bingo & Social Club

This attracts around 3-5 fans per game!! Classic...........

Hahaha!!!

Nah, Celtic versus Rangers at Parkhead is something to experiance.

apart from the undoubtedly river-boca derby being the greatest rivalry,the most intense- then i will have to mention a near carbon copy just the other side of the river plate,between two equally great sides (3 world club championships each )......it is of course the uruguayan classico, nacional v penarol,,,,,,,,, in terms of passion this derby would leave some of those you mentioned for dead

I've been to Hibs vs Hearts in Edinburgh but it's childsplay compared to Celtic vs Rangers in Glasgow. 60,000 fanatics, noise for 90 minutes. I'd say it would be even better if they didn't have to play each other 4 times a season and Rangers had a decent team able to compete! Also although Barca-Real Madrid isn't a derby Hnrik Larsson (Celtic and Barca) said recently it didn't compare to the noise levels of Celtic vs Rangers.

it has to be the almighty rangers v celtic as a follower of rangers and have been to many there is nothing in the sporting world that comperes to this you have to see it to belive it have also been to chelsea v arsenal ac millan v inter and barca v real all great in there own right but cant top the two powers from glasgow we are the people

BOCA -RIVER IS THE WORLD'S MOST PATIONATE DERBY.IT IS THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR .THE CRIOLLOS AND THE RACIST ZIONIST .THERE IS NOT A BIGGER HATRED BETWEEN TWO TEAMS NOWHERE IN THE WORLD.LA BOMBONERA IS A PRESSURE COOKER AND THE GALLINAS WILL BE MADE SOUP OF.BOCA FANS ARE NUMEROUS 40% AND RIVER 33% OF ARGENTINA'S SOCCER TEAMS.

after reading all these comments, no doubt you guys are living in your own little and irrelevant world. Boca_River is consider the world over (by people who know what they are talking about) as the most passionate world derby. I understand you want your little and irrelevant team to be important. But facts are facts.

I have been boith at Inter-Juve and Inter-Milan and the last one is by far the most passionate game in Italy. How does it fare with the rest of the world? The answer is that no other teams from the same city have ever won the European Champions league and the International Cup for CLub, only Milan teams have achieved this, and to me that makes their game the biggest in soccer.

Unlike the same city derbies, the Newcastle Sunderland rivalry dates back hundreds and hundreds of years due an intense ruvalry for finance and power and being the biggest power in the north east, for example in the english civil war, both cities took different sides
and industry between to two cities has always been very competitive as well as where taxes ago, the rivalry has been intense for hundreds of years, with violence and blood...nothing beats a tyne-wear derby, but rangers/celtic comes close.

Universitatea Craiova - dinamo buCUResti

Before I go on Glasgow is the most violent city in the developed world. Rangers and celtic have been fighting for years and years. It is definitely the most passionate. If you think they are the only 2 gd teams in Scotland more is at stake. The religious origins, different sides of Glasgow, if a rangers fan saw a celtic fan they would instantly attack... come and see and youll see that by far this derby is the most violent, the most passionate and the greatest.

to be fair i have 2 say best derby in the world is celtic rangers but in england it has to be villa blues the atmosphere is pure electric in foreign countries they talk bout the derby bout week b4 the game in brum we talk bout the game for months and months no other derby in england compares to this 1

Rangers v Celtic. Followed by Gala v Fenerbache and River Plate v Boca. The Old Firm game in Glasgow is unreal! 90 mins of pure hatred. Police all over the city, men, women, children going nuts. The most intense sporting event i've ever been to.

Fenerbahce and Galatasaray

Rangers v Celtic by far. Its the only derby in the World thats fulled by religious hatred, and even today there are still fans on both sides being killed just because of which TEAM he or she supports ;

One which has not been mentioned is West Ham v Millwall. It stems from an almost 100 year dispute over south London dockers (Millwall) who broke a strike adhered to by east London dockers (West Ham). These are the two roughest parts of London; when these teams (rarely) meet, it does not involve middle class twats (like Chelsea, Spurs and Arsenal)shouting at each other, it involves the underclasses of London clashing with real venom. See the film Green Street, with Elijah Wood, for Hollywood's take on it. PS COME ON YOU IRONS!

Arsenal and Chelsea as a passionate derby? Someone hasn't been paying attention to the North London side of things. The most passionate among the London Clubs, and perhaps the EPL as a whole, is the North London Derby - Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur. It may have gotten a bit one-sided in recent years, but nothing gets White Hart Lane jumping like that match. (Go Spurs!)

Outside of England, likely the most passionate is Celtic and Rangers.

You've never seen a derby until you've been to a Genoa - Sampdoria match, at the Marassi stadium.

The 3 most violent rivalries ever would be:
Celtic v Rangers: pure hatred in Glasgow whatever the game
Boca Juniors v River Plate: always ends up with fights and the fans are wild
Galatasaray v Fenerbache: if you said you were a Galatasaray fan you would get beaten up by Fenerbache fans.
All these rivalries are the most violent, more violent than Manchester United v Liverpool or Real Madrid V Barcelona

celtic v rangers is not just a football match it's catholic v prodestant, ireland v britain, republican v loyalist,all this makes it the best derby in the world

crvena zvezda vs partizan is the most passionate derby, guys are ready to day for win!!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE TRUST ME BECAUSE I'M RIGHT

most deffinately Rangers-Celtic. there just isn't any question to it, the Old Firm rivalry is just... legendary

Rangers v Celtic handsdown! Been to most...man u v liverpoll, milan, barca real etc! but the glasgow one is the best...maybe not the best football wise but passion, atmosphere, hatred, no one comes near!
also the build up and aftermath is incredible!

ive been to liverpool everton celtic rangers hibs hearts as a hibs fan i think the glasgow biggots have to take the crown i went to hampden and saw them both win and the noise was electric nothing compared except scotland against ch/lavic in world cup qaulifier in 1973 almost made my ears explode now that was passion at its best

WORLD AND EUROPE İS BEST DERBİES FENERBAHCE-GALATASARAY

Any match at anfield is by far the best match you can ever go to. Just ask the barca fans, chelsea fans, manchester united fans etc... the moment you step foot in that pitch all you will hear is liverpool hooligans screaming and chanting liverpool chants the full 90 min. the noise level in that stadium is quite remarkable, and can be quite intemidating for any opponent. in the tunel just before stepping onto the pitch, rivals stare at a big liverpool logo that states "remember, this is anfield". the best part about anfield, is the end of the match, weather the team wins, looses, or ties the the fans live up to their motto and sing their players out with the liverpool anthem "you'll never walk alone". gives me the chills everytime i see it. very remarkable!!!

Obviouly, most of you guys are from English Canada, the reason why the Rangers-Celtics win this thread. Here is the real top 5:

1-Cracovia vs Wislaw Krakow
2-Zaghreb vs Split
3-PSG vs Olympique Marseille
4-Milwall vs West Ham United
5-Lazio vs AS Roma

Aguilas del America VS. Chivas Del Guadalajara

THIS MAY BE OF INTEREST
The "Football Rivalries Report 2008", undertaken by The New Football Pools, owners of Littlewoods, produced a league table of rivalries based on the results of a survey of fans, ranking the results using a formula based on:[8]

the survey responses of both sets of fans
the respective league and cup records of the two clubs
the regularity of league and cup meetings between the rivals
the two clubs' records when playing each other
the impact on attendances when they meet
transfers between the clubs, and fans' reactions to those transfers
off-the-field factors, such as media coverage of the rivalry
The top five rivalries were between:

West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Ipswich Town and Norwich City
Liverpool and Manchester United
Portsmouth and Southampton
Cardiff City and Swansea City

Steaua-Dinamo Bucharest. The best football derby in the world.

THE BIGGEST DERBY IN THE WORLD WITHOUT QUESTION IS...

RIVER PLATE VS BOCA JUNIORS

followed closely by Blackburn Rovers vs Burnley

Soweto Derby...Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates

I love soccer. It runs through my veins, it gives me life.....and sometimes it seems like it can take it away.....(on a bad Sunday). I watched international soccer constantly..I mean all the time and have been doing it for 48 years now!!! but I must say that Boca Juniors vs. River Plate takes the cake.....I mean I'm crazy about soccer but the followers of those two teams are totally and absolutely, without a doubt MAD AS HELL when it comes to this derby...it's not just the city or the country, it's every argentine no matter where they live in the world or what team they follow...It's a paralizing effect like no other in the soccer world. IT COULD BE SAID WATCHED BOCA VS. RIVER AND DIE !!!!!!

Of course River-Boca is a hell of a derby, but i think you´re not seeing the whole picture, Peñarol-Nacional, eventhough both of them hasn´t been doing well internationaly for a long time is by far if not the most oldest derby in southamerica, every time they meet there are 8 libertadores cups and 6 clubs world championships on the field!!!!!!!

Staines Town vs Ashford Town is an awesome spectacle thats totally insane. Makes Celtic/Rangers look like a picnic

sorry, but you never understand the real feel of pasion if you not come to boca stadium because boca is a feel and never can stop