La Plata derby

The La Plata derby (Clásico Platense or Clásico de La Plata in Spanish) is one of the most fiercely contested derbies in Argentine football. It is played between Estudiantes de La Plata and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.

The derby is fiercely contested, and the rivalry between fans is so extreme that Gimnasia fans have been accused of making death threats on their own team players when playing against teams that could possibly weaken Estudiantes' chances of winning a title. This happened once with a game between Boca Juniors and Gimansia. If Gimnasia threw the game, this would give Boca Juniors a better chance to win the title instead of Estudiantes. [ [http://www.ole.clarin.com/jsp/v4/pagina.jsp?pagId=01306002&fecha=20061109 Death threats] ]

History

The first competitive game between the clubs occurred on August 27, 1916 resulting in a 1-0 win for Gimnasia. The derby was contested intermittantly during the amateur era of Argentine football due to the fact that the teams often played in different divisions.

Since the 1960s Estudiantes have won many titles including three consecutive Copa Libertadores titles, while Gimnasia have narrowly missed out on the Argentine championship on five occasions earning them the cruel nickname of "subcampeones" (Runner-ups).

On October 15, 2006 Estudiantes inflicted the heaviest derby defeat in the history of the fixture by winning 7-0.

tatistics

*Statistics from [http://www.universofutbol.com/plantillas/informes/clasicos/clasicoplatense.php Universo Futbol]

Players to have played for both clubs

*Carlos Casartelli
*Ricardo Infante
*Enrique Vidallé

Highlights

Estudiantes de La Plata highlights

*On July 1 1917 Estudiates won the derby match for the first time by a score of 3-0.
*On September 13 1930 Estudiantes won the last amateur game between the clubs by a score of 4-1.
*On March 13 1932 Estudiantes won 6-1 to record their biggest win in the derby, a record that stood for 74 years.
*On November 17 1940 Estudiantes recorded a 4-1 away win.
*On September 5 1948 Estudiantes equalled their record win, beating Gimnasia 6-1.
*On August 5 1967 Estudiantes won 3-0 to end a run of three consecutive 0-0 draws in league fixtures between the clubs.
*On June 7 1968 Estudiantes won 6-1 away to record the biggest ever away win in the derby.
*On November 27 1971 Estudiantes won 5-1.
*On October 15 2006 Estudiantes inflicted the heaviest derby defeat in the history of the fixture, winning 7-0.
*On December 13 2006 Estudiantes beat Boca Juniors in a championship playoff game, winning the title despite the efforts of some Gimnasia fans who had threatened their own team into losing against Boca, in order to damage Estudiantes chances of winning the title.

Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata highlights

*On August 27 1916 Gimnasia won the first ever La Plata derby
*Between August 12 1932 and September 9 1934 Gimnasia won 5 consecutive derbies in the league, the longest winning run in the derby to date.
*On June 25 1963 Gimnasia won 5-2 at home.
*On November 11 1970 Gimnasia won 4-1 in the Nacional avenging a 4-1 defeat earlier in the season.
*In 1993 Gimnasia beat Estudiantes 1-0 on aggregate on their way to winning the Copa Centenario.
*On April 24 2003 Gimnasia won 4-2.

References

External links

* [http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/estgim.html Statistics of La Plata Derby on RSSSF]
*es icon [http://www.geocities.com/angelo_clerici/clasicos.htm Gimnasia record of the derby]
*es icon [http://elpincha.8k.com/CLASICO%20PLATENSE.htm Estudiantes version of the statistics]