Football rivalries in Argentina

There are a number of major football rivalries in Argentina.

Superderby

The Superclásico (Superderby) is the most important football rivalry in Argentina, and the most important local derby. It is contested between Buenos Aires rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate. It derives from the Spanish usage of "clásico" to mean derby and the prefix super is used because Boca Juniors and River Plate are the two most popular and successful teams in Argentine football commanding more than 70% of all Argentine football fans between them.^[1]

The Superderby is known worldwide as one of world football's fiercest and most important derbies.^[2] It is particularly noted for the passion of the fans, the stands of both teams feature fireworks, coloured confetti, flags and rolls of paper. Both sets of supporters sing passionate songs (often based on popular Argentine rock band tunes) against their rivals, and the stadiums are known to bounce with the simultaneous jumping of the fans. Sometimes the games have been known to end in riots between the hardest supporters of both sides or against the police.^[3] The English newspaper The Observer put the Superclásico at the top of their list of 50 sporting things you must do before you die.^[4]

Avellaneda derby

The Avellaneda derby (Clásico de Avellaneda), contested between Independiente and Racing, is the second most important rivalry in Argentine football. The two teams have many fans throughout the country. Independiente and Racing are the third and fourth most popular clubs in Argentina, accounting for more than 9% of the nation's football fans.^[5][6][7]) Both are among the most successful teams in terms of total number of league championships won. The match is the second most important local derby behind the Superderby.

A fierce rivalry exists between the two clubs, whose stadiums are just 200 meters apart. The derby is one of the most intense and colorful in the country, That has been dominated by Racing until 1970, and by Independiente until today.

Rosario derby

The Rosario derby (clásico rosarino) is the most important derby between clubs that are not based in the autonomous city or the province of Buenos Aires. It is contested between Newell's Old Boys and Rosario Central, the two major teams in the city of Rosario. The teams nicknames relate from the same incident where Rosario Central refused to play a charity game for a Leprosy charity, hence their nickname Canallas (Scoundrels). Newell's Old Boys stepped in to play the game and earned the nickname Los Leprosos (The Lepers).

Huracán - San Lorenzo de Almagro

The derby, which does not have a name that is generally used when referring to it, is contested between Huracán and San Lorenzo de Almagro, both clubs from Buenos Aires. This derby was regularly played in the Primera División until Huracán were relegated to the 2nd division. Matches between the two clubs continued again after Huracán was promoted back to the Primera División in 2007. The derby has historically been dominated by San Lorenzo de Almagro.^[8]

Western Buenos Aires derby

The Western Buenos Aires derby (clásico del oeste) is contested between the two major teams in the west of the city of Buenos Aires, Ferro Carril Oeste and Vélez Sársfield. The first game was played in the amateur era in 1920 but this derby has not occurred in official competition since Ferro's relegation from the Primera División in 2000. From the beginning of the professional era the difference between wins of Ferro Carril Oeste and Vélez Sarsfield has been 9 wins for the latter. This is one of the oldest fighting and rivalry began 11 years before the start of the professional era A.F.A. football. However, in more recent years and due to their success in the last 15–20 years, the West Buenos Aires rivalry has not been fully reciprocated by Vélez Sarsfield fans, who typically regard San Lorenzo or River Plate as more significant rivals.

Platense derby

The Platense derby (clásico platense) is contested between the two major clubs in the city of La Plata, Estudiantes de La Plata and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.^[9] The derby is fiercely contested, and the rivalry between the fans is so extreme that Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata fans have been accused of making death threats to their own team to lose on purpose to Boca Juniors; by strengthening Boca Juniors' lead at the top of the table, it would damage Estudiantes' chances of winning the championship.^[10]

Córdoba derby

The Córdoba derby (clásico cordobés) is a closely contested derby between the two most popular teams of Córdoba, Belgrano and Talleres.^[11][12] The teams nicknames are "Matadores" for Talleres and "Piratas" for Belgrano.

Santa Fe derby

The Santa Fe derby (clásico santafesino) is contested between the two major teams in the city of Santa Fe, Colón and Unión. The derby had occurred in official competition for many years, since 1913. Colón play their home games at the Estadio Brigadier López, while Unión play their home games at Estadio 15 de Abril. The teams nicknames are "Sabaleros" for Colón and "Tatengues" for Unión.

Tucumán derby

The Tucumán derby (clásico tucumano): is contested between the two major teams in the province of Tucumán, and it is played in San Miguel de Tucumán, San Martín de Tucumán vs. Club Atlético Tucumán, it is the most important match in the north of Argentina.

Complete list

References