Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04
The Revierderby, or Ruhr derby, is the biggest derby in German football. It is a rivalry which is based on nothing more than locality, with the distance from Gelsenkirchen, where Schalke are based, to Dortmund a mere 35km. German fans are known for their ardent support, and this is especially the case when it comes to this fixture. Schalke banned 498 Dortmund fans from their Stadium, the Veltins-Arena, for throwing missiles at a game in October 2013. The previous year, both sets of fans fought in the streets, with German police using tear gas and water cannons to restore order. However, violence is not par for the course with this game, and Dortmund’s ‘Yellow Wall’ on the south terrace at the Westfalenstadion, which is the largest terrace for standing spectators in Europe, is truly a sight to behold.
Nacional v Penarol
Both sides are based in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo, and contest what is known as the Uruguayan Clasico. Penarol was founded in 1891 by English immigrants under the name Central Uruguay Railway Cricket Club (CURCC) and was originally made up of English immigrants. Club Nacional de Football, known as Nacional, was formed from only native footballers in 1899, when football was almost exclusively the territory of Europeans living in Uruguay. Between them they have won 90 of the 108 Uruguayan titles, so it is no wonder that tensions occasionally run high. In June this year a riot was sparked when the referee awarded a penalty to Nacional in a title-decider, Penarol fans throwing seats and fighting with police in riot gear. In the end, Nacional missed; Penarol ‘keeper Pablo Migliore saving from 12 yards.
Lazio v Roma
Known as the Eternal City derby, the Rome Derby or the Derby della Capitale, Lazio v Roma is considered the most heated rivalry in Italy, ahead of the Derby della Madonnina (Milan derby) and the Derby della Mole (Turin derby). Lazio ultras are depicted as fascists, leading people to believe Roma fans to be left-wing, which is not the case; both sets of supporters have right wing inclinations. The derby is so keenly contested as both sides want to be considered the best in the capital, and region, as Italy’s most successful clubs are in the north of the country. Roma currently lead the way, with 196 wins to Lazio’s 153 victories.
Everton v Liverpool
The Merseyside derby is also known as the friendly derby, and is a reminder that passionate support of your team need not spill over into anything unsavoury. It is a game where total segregation is not required, many families are split between red and blue, and fans who can’t get to the game watch it in pubs with people of the opposite allegiance. Just because the fans get along does not mean there is less at stake on the field, and since the inception of the Premier League back in 1992, this fixture has seen more red cards brandished than any other.