Football rivalries in Argentina

There are a number of major football rivalries in Argentina.

uperclásico

:Main article "Superclásico"

The Superclásico is the most important football rivalry in Argentina, it is contested between Buenos Aires rivals River Plate and Boca Juniors. 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 comendering more than 70% of all Argentine football fans between them [ [http://www.consultoraequis.com/Estudios_PDF/futbol_marzo06_.pdf Argentine football statistics PDF] ] .

The Superclásico is known worldwide as one of world football's fiercest and most important derbies. [ [http://newssearch.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/football/features/newsid_2297000/2297495.stm BBC Academy, famous football derbies] ] 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 [ [http://www.marca.com/marca_america/argentina/clausura01/violencia.html Marca America article about the violence] ] . The English newspaper The Observer put the Superclásico at the top of their list of 50 sporting things you must do before you die. [ [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,1182710,00.html 50 sporting things you must do before you die] ] .

Rosario derby

:"Main article 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).

Avellaneda derby

:Main article "Avellaneda derby"

The Avellaneda derby (clásico de Avellaneda) is the second most important rivalry in Argentine football (the two teams have many fans throughout the country) and the second most important local derby behind the Superclásico, who is contested between Boca Juniors and River Plate. It is contested between Independiente and Racing, the 3rd (Independiente) and 4th (Racing) most popular (comendering more than 15% of all Argentine football fans between [es icon [http://www.consultoraequis.com/Estudios_PDF/futbol_marzo06_.pdf Consultora Equis] ] [es icon [http://www.lanacion.com.ar/herramientas/printfriendly/printfriendly.asp?nota_id=743522 La Nacion] ] [es icon [http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3-78167-2006-12-24.html Página 12] ] ) and successful teams in terms of the total number of league championships won [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesa/argchamp.html RSSSF Argentine championship statistics] ] .

La Plata derby

The La Plata 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. The derby is fiercely contested, and the rivalry between the fans is so extreme that Gimnasia fans have been accused of making death threats to their own team in order to make them lose on purpose to Boca Juniors in order to damage Estudiantes' chances of winning the championship [ [http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v4/pagina.jsp?pagId=01306002&fecha=20061109 Death threats] ] .

Córdoba derby

The Córdoba derby (clásico Cordobés) is contested between the 1st and 2nd important teams in the city of Córdoba, Belgrano and Talleres (that city has got four important teams, Belgrano, Talleres, Instituto de Córdoba and Racing de Córdoba, and has got two derbies). The derby in this moment occurred in the Segunda Division.

Huracán versus San Lorenzo de Almagro derby

The Huracán versus San Lorenzo de Almagro derby is contested between Huracán and San Lorenzo de Almagro (this derby hasn't got a name). These clubs played in different divisions for several years but were reunited in the Primera Division in 2007. The clubs are both based in the city of Buenos Aires.

West derby (west of Buenos Aires)

The West 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 derby has not occurred in official competition for several years, since Ferro's relegation from the Primera División.

anta 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 has not occurred in official competition for several years, since Union's relegation from the Primera Division.

Instituto de Córdoba versus Racing de Córdoba derby

The Instituto de Córdoba versus Racing de Córdoba derby is contested between the 3rd and 4th important teams in the city of Córdoba, Instituto de Córdoba and Racing de Córdoba (this derby hasn't got a name). The derby has not occurred because Instituto de Córdoba are in the Segunda División and Racing de Córdoba are in the Tercera División.

Rafaela derby

The Rafaela derby (clásico Rafaelino) is contested between the two major teams in the city of Rafaela, Atlético de Rafaela and Ben Hur. This derby in this moment are in the Segunda División.

Other notable derbies

*Tucumán derby - San Martín de Tucumán v Club Atlético Tucumán
*South derby (south of the Greater Buenos Aires) - Banfield v Lanús
*Mar del Plata derby - Aldosivi v Alvarado de Mar del Plata
*Resistencia derby - Chaco For Ever v Sarmiento
*Mendoza derby - Independiente Rivadavia v Gimnasia y Esgrima de Mendoza
*San Juan derby - Desamparados v San Martín de San Juan
*Salta derby - Central Norte v Juventud Antoniana
*Bahía Blanca derby - Olimpo v Villa Mitre

Other derbies

*Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy v Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta
*Argentinos Juniors v Platense
*All Boys v Atlanta
*Deportivo Español v Sportivo Italiano
*Godoy Cruz Antonio Tomba v Independiente Rivadavia
*Chacarita Juniors v Nueva Chicago
*Lanús v Quilmes
*Atlanta v Chacarita Juniors
*Banfield v Quilmes
*Rivadavia de Lincoln v El Linqueño de Lincoln
*San Martín de Mendoza v Independiente Rivadavia
*Platense v Tigre
*Defensores de Belgrano v Excursionistas
*Temperley v Los Andes
*Colegiales v Comunicaciones
*Almirante Brown v Deportivo Laferrere
*Argentino de Rosario v Central Córdoba
*Argentino de Merlo v Deportivo Merlo
*Almirante Brown v Deportivo Morón
*Arsenal de Sarandí v El Porvenir
*Sportivo Dock Sud v San Telmo
*Chacarita Juniors v Deportivo Morón
*Almagro v Estudiantes

References