The match that represents most famous rivalry in the footballing world comes round again today.
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There is no game in the world like the Superclasico, the game that the Observer described as “making the Old Firm game look like a primary school kick-about”. Here are just some of the reasons that the derby is the greatest game in the world footballing calendar.
The Setting
Buenos Aires is perhaps the best footballing city in the world: there are thirteen clubs from the city in the Argentinian first division alone – that’s more than half the league! Despite the huge number of options, a reported 70% of Argentinians support either River or Boca, and the whole country grinds to a halt when the Superclasico is on.
The Context
Like all great footballing derbies, the Superclasico stands for something. It’s not just two clubs from the same city, it represents a social divide. River Plate are from the rich district of Nunez, and are known as Los Millionarios, the Millionaires. Boca have stayed put in the working class district around Buenos Aires docks. Thus the Superclasico stands for rich vs. poor, upper class against lower class.
The Cargadas
The two clubs also have a tradition of “cargadas“, pranks that they play on each other, like rival American High Schools. Recently, Boca fans in attendance at River’s El Monumental stadium filled it with posters listing the rock bands that had played there in the preceding months, the implication being that the River fans are part-time football fans, and would really rather be watching a concert. Most of the cargadas aren’t that subtle: at one Superclasico River fans simply sailed an inflatable pig in a Boca shirt above their fans.
The Players
Argentina is one of the most storied footballing nations in the world, and this is the biggest game between the two biggest clubs in the country, so inevitably some of the world’s greatest players have taken part in the Superclasicos. The list of players who have competed in the derby is in crazy: from and Radamel Falcao and Alexis Sanchez on one side to Carlos Tevez and Walter Samuel on the other; not forgetting past heroes like Boca old boy Diego Maradona.
The Fans
There are no football fans in the world more passionate than the Argentinians, no Argentinian fans more passionate than the River and Boca fans, and no game bigger for those fans than the Superclasico. The atmosphere at the games is legendary, the noise and the colour unmatched anywhere else in the world of football. The sense that it could all kick off at any moment just adds to the occasion. There will be no Boca fans at El Monumental this time round after trouble in recent games, but that will do little to dampen the euphoria.
The History
The first Superclasico took place in 1908, and its first competitive iteration was in 1913. Boca and River were clashing while Arsenal were still in Woolwich and before Liverpool had made it to an FA cup final. The history of the Superclasico is so rich and full of stories. Who knows what will happen in El Monumental tonight – maybe another piece of history will be made?