Football derbies bring out an extra bit of spice to a typical matchday. The battle of rival towns, cities or regions can quickly escalate to a clash of personalities, ideologies and representation.
They are usually the first match day fans might look for when the fixture lists are announced. Whether it’s held at a fiery San Siro or somewhere more low-key like The Mornflake Stadium in Crewe, the game matters the same, to the people who are there. There to see their team fight for the pride and bragging rights.
This weekend (9th-10th November 2024) we saw clubs do battle across the continent, competing for the right to boast against their rivalries.
The Steel City Derby – Sheffield United 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
The term ‘Steel City’ is unsurprising given to cities and towns across the world that were once well known for their production of the silver stuff. It depicts the area as a hard-working, industrialised space, full of gritty and determined people. So it’s no wonder then, that The Steel City Derby can be somewhat of a spicy affair…
The last time this fixture was played was when both clubs were in the Championship in 2018/19, with both games finishing 0-0. Wednesday’s last victory came in 2012, over 12 years ago.
Wednesday fans will have to wait a little longer after they lost again on Sunday.
Tyreece Campbell, son of the late-great Kevin Campbell, scored the only goal of the game, in what was a fiery edition of the derby. It was a very even game, with both sides registering around a 0.60 xG, but the quality of some individuals for the Blades were key.
In particular, Gustavo Hamer, Harrison Burrows, Harry Souttar and Vinicius de Souza.
North West London Derby – Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal
Featuring two of the biggest clubs in the country, and indeed the continent, Chelsea vs Arsenal often sees plenty of excitement.
The Gunners are based up in Holloway, in North London, whilst Sunday’s hosts are based in Fulham, West London – hence the derby’s name. Arsenal’s North London Derby with Tottenham Hotspurs is their primary derby, whereas Chelsea’s West London Derby with Fulham is one that sees the two grounds quite close together, but in terms of a ‘rivalry’, due to the traditional differences of quality in the teams, it’s not particularly feisty.
Arsenal have won this tie more than Chelsea, 83 victories to the Blues’ 66 but it was the draw stat that rose by one at the weekend – now to 61.
After great work by Pedro Neto, Malo Gusto missed a sitter at the back post, Arsenal were next to think they were about to take the lead when former Blue, Kai Havertz poked past Robert Sanchez, he was adjudged to be offside, however.
The Gunners eventually took the lead through a brilliant piece of quality from Martin Ødegaard found Gabriel Martinelli behind the Chelsea backline, the Brazilian winger composed himself and somehow beat Sanchez at his near post.
10 minutes later, on the 70th minute mark, the aforementioned Portuguese winger, Pedro Neto, equalised for the hosts, sending Stamford Bridge into raptures. His low, long range, left footed strike was a peach.
With the spoils shared, the point might not be too satisfactory for The Gunners, who have failed to fully capitalise on Manchester City’s loss at Brighton and Hove Albion. Even worse for the away side were the suspected injuries to key players Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka.
Derby della More – Juventus 2-0 Torino
On Saturday 9th, Turin played host to the Derby della Mole – the oldest meeting of two teams from the same city in Italian football. Named after the Mole Antonelliana, a significant architectural landmark in the city, the match sees city rivals Juventus and Torino face-off against each other.
Juventus remain unbeaten in this season’s Serie A as they saw out a 2-0 victory against their local rivals. USMNT attacker, Timothy Weah, opened the scoreline on the 18th minute after slotting in a rebound from Andrea Cambiaso’s attacking run and saved shot. Kenan Yildiz made it 2-0 when he headed home at the back post.
La Vecchia Signora (The Old Lady) were largely dominant in the game, as they often are in these clashes, as shown by the superior possession, shots and xG stats.
A London Derby – Crystal Palace 0-2 Fulham
Whilst neither clubs would cite the other as their main rivals, but any game between London-based clubs can create a lively atmosphere, thus developing a potential importance amongst the supporterships.
This season Palace and Fulham are having very different seasons. As Saturday night drew to a close, Palace sat one point above the bottom three, whilst Fulham were one point off third place and a Champions League spot.
And the differences between the two sides showed during their 3pm clash. Emile Smith-Rowe curled home just before the half time whistle to put Fulham 0-1 up. After Daichi Kamada was sent off for the hosts on the 76th minute, Harry Wilson made it 0-2 eight minutes later, having only been on the field for barely 40 seconds.
It could’ve been worse for Palace, as both Smith-Rowe and Wilson also had a goal each ruled out by VAR.
The Cambridgeshire Derby – Peterborough United 6-1 Cambridge United
Losing a derby in any fashion can be a nightmare for the supporters, but this was truly embarrassing from Cambridge United.
Despite being 42 miles apart, both sides are the only professional clubs in Cambridgeshire and thus have developed a rivalry; you have to go back to 1990 for the last time The U’s won at Peterborough’s London Road stadium.
The wait continues as Posh put the away side to the sword. A flurry of four goals in 19 first half minutes saw Ricky-Jade Jones, Kwane Poku (x2) and Malik Mothersille put the hosts 4-0 up.
Jones polished off a brilliant fast-paced sweeping move for the opener before Joel Randall broke the offside trap to tee up Poku. The Ghanaian slid a delightful third in from the edge of the box and then Mothersille converted a penalty.
Ryan De Havilland made it five just after half time, Jones and Poku capitalised on some terrible defending to provide the midfielder with a chance from inside the box.
And then a bit of a goal drought…
It took 34 minutes before another goal came, but this time it was for the visitors as Sullay Kaikai scored arguably the pick of the goals, he jinxed in onto his right foot and wrapped a low, bouncing effort in off the far post.
On 90 minutes, that man Poku finished off his hat trick with a low left footed drive to the keeper’s near post.
All in all, a pretty good day at the office for the Posh.
Greece’s biggest intercity derby – PAOK Thessaloniki FC 2-3 Olympiacos
Although it doesn’t have a name specifically (which disappoints me), PAOK versus Olympiacos is known as Greece’s largest intercity rivalry.
It’s bred from a feeling of marginalisation in Thessaloniki due to their perceived ideas that the Greek State favours Athens, in particular the Piraeus area – where Olympiacos is based. Fans of all clubs in Thessaloniki seem to have hatred of all Athenian based clubs (Olympiacos, AEK Athens and Panathinaikos F.C), who are still dubbed P.O.K – a nickname for the regular top three of Greek football that derived from their odd coalition in the 1920s.
This iteration of the derby did not disappoint, five goals were shared between the two sides, with the visitors coming out on top and therefore leapfrogging PAOK in the league.
17 year old Charalampos Kostoulas scored his first senior goal to open the scoreline with a clever header before half time, but soon after the break it was 0-2 thanks to a Ayoub El Kaabi goal – his name will give Aston Villa fans nightmares.
Former Chelsea man, Abdul Rahman Baba tucked home from eight yards out to get PAOK back into the game but 10 minutes later another familiar name to many – Gelson Martins – made it 1-3 to the visitors. The Portuguese winger just stayed on side before racing through on goal and slotting past the keeper.
Centre back David Carmo acutely poked the ball past his own goalkeeper to provide PAOK with a lifeline with nine minutes of regular time remaining but the hosts couldn’t capitalise.
O Clássico – S.L. Benfica 4-1 FC Porto
Over in Portugal there are three big clubs, but the two most successful of those sides, S.L. Benfica and FC Porto faced off in O Clássico (The Classic) on Sunday night. Lisbon-based-Benfica put their city rivalry with Sporting CP aside when FC Porto come south.
A rivalry born from fierce competition, that also showcases the divide of the luxurious and laid-back south versus the industrialised, hard-working northern side of Portugal.
Without delving too deeply, the story of their rivalry intertwines accusations of corruption and bribery, espionage and hacked emails, with some genuinely outstanding football.
On Sunday night, Angel Di Maria grabbed the headlines as a confident Benfica dispatched FC Porto 4-1 at Estadio da Luz.
It was young left back Álvaro Carreras who opened the scoreline on the 30th minute, as he cut inside in the box and powered home a strong effort. In the 44th minute, on-fire Spanish attacker Samuel Omorodion levelled for FC Porto – he was back-post and capitalised on a Benfica defender failing to clear a low cross.
Into the second half and a swift Benfica attacker was polished off by Di Maria for the hosts to retake the lead. Neheun Perez was unfortunate to concede an own goal on the hour mark, and then Di Maria wrapped up the victory when he converted a penalty.
Derby Rhône-Alpes – Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 AS Saint-Étienne
With less than an hour in between the two cities, Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Étienne have developed their hotly contested derby over the last 70 years. They first met in 1951 but the rivalry has developed to mean a little more than football, to some it represents a battle in lifestyles.
Lyon is said to be largely white-collar, office, admin and governance work, whilst Saint-Étienne represents blue-collar, manual labour and trades.
In this iteration of the derby, Lyon ran out 1-0 winners thanks to former Arsenal striker Alexander Lacazette kneeing home from close range mid-way through the first half.
Lyon took the three points and the bragging rights as they extended their lead over their visitors to eight points.
Who were this weekend’s biggest winners?
The biggest winners of this collection of derbies from the weekend must be Peterborough United – beating anyone with six goals must be a great feeling, let alone your nearest and dearest.
Olympiacos heading all the way out to the home of PAOK and beating them 2-3 thanks to an inspired Gelson Martins is a statement win.
Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s Steel City Derby victory should provide them with much delight.