We take a look at some of the most intense and fiercely contested grudge matches on the planet.
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20) Olympiakos vs. Panathinaikos
The Athens derby is certainly one of the fiercest in European football, although the edge, for a wider audience at least, has been taken off slightly in recent years due to the dominance that Olympiakos have had over their rivals and Greek football in general.
19) Al Ahly vs. Zamalek
Egyptian football has had its problems with crowd trouble in recent years, as this photo from an Al Ahly clash shows, but the biggest derby game in African football takes place between bitter Cairo rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek, the best supported clubs in the country.
18) Sunderland vs. Newcastle United
A notoriously chaotic derby both on and off the pitch, recent meetings between these North East rivals have seen red cards aplenty, fans squaring up to police horses and general carnage.
17) Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid
The Madrid derby intensified hugely last season as Diego Simeone made Atletico genuine challengers to their bitter city rivals for the first time in a generation, although it is still slightly eclipsed by a certain other La Liga clash.
16) Partizan Belgrade vs. Red Star Belgrade
Known as the Eternal Derby in Serbia, this clash between the two Belgrade sides is drawn out along political and social lines and has lost none of its spark despite Red Star’s recent financial troubles.
15) Manchester United vs. Manchester City
The Manchester derby has taken on increased significance in recent seasons as traditional underdogs City have found themselves competing on an even footing with rivals United. The most memorable recent clash with City’s incredible 6-1 victory at Old Trafford.
14) Spartak Moscow vs. CSKA Moscow
Although there are numerous Russian clubs from Moscow, the city’s traditional derby takes place between Spartak and CSKA, the country’s biggest sides with two very different philosophies.
13) Marseille vs. Paris Saint Germain
One of the biggest games in French football is between Marseille and PSG, known as Le Clasique, although geographically speaking it is not really a derby. The fixture pits the south of the country against the north and is notoriously intense – PSG won the most recent meeting at the Parc des Princes.
12) Ajax vs. Feyenoord
Another fixture that, rather than being a local derby, pits the two biggest cities in a nation against each other. The hatred between Rotterdam based Feyenoord and Amsterdam based Ajax is legendary, with away fans usually banned from the fixtures.
11) Lyon vs. St. Etienne
The biggest local derby game in French football comes between neighbouring cities Lyon and St. Etienne, pitting a stereotypically rich town against the more working class St. Etienne. Les Verts recently ended a long home winless run against their rivals with a famous 3-0 win.
10) Borussia Dortmund vs. FC Schalke 04
The biggest derby game in German football is undoubtedly the Ruhr derby between Dortmund and Schalke, a fixture that is almost always played twice a season and sees the two most bitter rivals in the Bundesliga square off against each other.
9) Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
The North London derby was born when Arsenal, then based in Woolwich, moved onto Tottenham’s patch in the 1800s. A bitter feud was created that is yet to be settled to this day, with the most recent derby ending in a 1-1 stalemate.
8) AS Roma vs. SS Lazio
A derby that is mired in politics and has been dogged by violence and racism, the Rome derby between Roma and Lazio is one of the biggest in continental Europe. The most famous Rome derby of recent times came in the Copa Italia final, with Lazio taking the honours.
7) Nacional vs. Penarol
Leaving Europe for a moment, we go to Montevideo for the oldest derby in world football outside of the British Isles. Nacional and Penarol have met over 400 times in their history and are the two biggest clubs in Uruguay – they can’t stand each other, with one meeting in 2000 ending with players spending up to a month in prison.
6) Inter Milan vs. AC Milan
They may share a stadium, but there is very little love lost between these two Milan rivals, representing one part of the city each. The two sides met a fortnight ago, with a draw being the result that neither were looking for.
5) Manchester United vs. Liverpool
The biggest game in English football on account of the traditional rivalry between the cities of Manchester and Liverpool and the relative historical success of the two clubs, United beat Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford at the weekend.
4) Real Madrid vs. Barcelona
Known as El Clasico, when Real Madrid and Barcelona play it is not just a football match but a meeting of cultures, ideologies and even nations. The jewel of Catalonia, Barcelona have always been at the centre of Catalunyan sentiment and a meeting against Real represents a meeting with the enemy.
3) Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce
Turkish fans are known for their crazy behaviour anyway, but for the Istanbul derby between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce things are cranked up to a whole new level both on the pitch and in the stands.
2) Celtic vs. Rangers
The Old Firm derby in Glasgow is known across the world for its ferocity, with the two clubs divided on religious, social and even nationalistic lines. With Rangers’ demise in recent years there has been a drought of derbies, with the next meeting sure to be particularly fiery.
1) Boca Juniors vs. River Plate
The daddy of derbies is in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the meeting of Boca Juniors and River Plate is known as the Superclassico. It is a truly mental occasion, despite the usual lack of away supporters, with the colour, noise and intensity beyond anything else in world football.