From El Clasico to the derby of the ‘eternal enemies’

LONDON - Manchester United against Liverpool is England’s version of El Clasico, when the two most successful clubs in English football (19 titles for United, 18 for Liverpool), go head to head.They might not quite be equals at the moment but the history and passion mark out this meeting as special and it is always keenly anticipated.Here is a look at which games in other countries have the same intensity and prestige? Top tenBarcelona vs Real MadridWe might as well start with the real ‘El Clasico’. This famously has its roots in politics, identity and ideas over nationality. Barca are the representation of Catalonia while Real are the King’s club and embodiment of Spanish nationalism, supported by General Franco during his time as leader of the country.In recent times though, the rivalry has been more about football, specifically the world’s two best clubs and the two best players, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. It is the most glamorous match in world football watched by millions around the globe.Rangers vs CelticA derby steeped in religion, sectarianism and bitterness, its fervour is like no other in Britain and very few in the world. On derby day - which, admittedly, has been fairly frequent given how many times teams play each other in Scotland - Glasgow divides and often hatred abounds. Rangers have been champions 54 times with Celtic trailing on 43.Juventus vs Inter MilanOK, you’re wondering why not AC Milan-Inter? Well, they don’t call this the derby of Italy for nothing. Its origins are in the rivalry between Turin and Milan, which were the two most industrialised cities in North West Italy in the early 20th century. Juventus are seen as the national club and it has always thought they have a pernicious influence on officials, something that was borne out when they were relegated and stripped of two Serie A titles following the Calciopoli scandal.Ajax vs FeyenoordThis is the main football rivalry in Holland by a country mile and these two are no cloggers. Historically it is the artists of Amsterdam against the workers of Rotterdam. Ajax are the far more successful club, with the Johan Cruyff-inspired side of the Seventies (which won three consecutive European Cups) and the Bergkamp-Kluivert-Overmars vintage of the Nineties leaving Feyenoord in the shade.Ajax still put their faith in youth and produce excellent young players but Feyenoord can lay claim to the odd gem (one man who goes by the initials RVP, for instance). PSG vs MarseilleThere are around 400 miles separating these two clubs but that has not stopped ‘Le Classique’ becoming a supremely intense clash, a real north-south divide and a side from the Mediterranean coast battling one from the sophisticated upper regions. Add in the facts that they are from the two biggest cities in France and boast the largest support and it becomes clear why there is so much antipathy. The rivalry intensified in a football sense when PSG won the title in 1994 after several years of Marseille dominance in the late 1980s and early 1990s.Dortmund vs SchalkeDortmund also have a rivalry with Bayern Munich but it is a more recent innovation and its roots are on the pitch. This is the Ruhr derby and what may have started out as a local skirmish has become the biggest grudge match in Germany. Strangely it is the similarites of their cities (Dortmund and Gelsenkirchen both have roots in the steel industries and ) that divide the two. They are more alike than they would perhaps like to acknowledge.It has taken extra significance on the pitch recently. There is resentment from Schalke that their 1997 UEFA Cup win was overshadowed by Dortmund’s Champions League triumph the same season. Benfica vs Sporting LisbonDespite the emergence of Porto and the advent of a ‘big three’ rivalry, this Lisbon derby is still the one that matters most to the fans. They both hail from the same city but they are divided, like many of the combatants on this list, on socio-economic lines. Benfica are the club of the working class and pour scorn on the ‘wealthier’ patrons of Sporting. Benfica are the more iconic club - the name Eusebio is synonymous - and they famously have two eagles, Victory and Glory, living in the Estadio da Luz.Victory and glory are what they are about on the pitch, too. They have won 32 Portuguese titles but not since 2010. Sporting have won 18 titles (the last in 2002) but have developed players some wonderful players including Luis Figo and the world’s second-best player, Cristiano Ronaldo.Galatasaray vs FenerbahceTo paraphrase that bloke from MasterChef, in terms of passion they don’t come much bigger than this. It is a century-old clash of cultures, divided by the Bosphorous, the European side of Istanbul (Gala) taking on the Asian section. The whole of Turkey watches this encounter and, unfortunately, violence is often a feature of this fixture. Sometimes the protagonists do not help - in 1996 the then Galatasaray manager Graeme Souness planted a club flag in the centre of the pitch following a cup final win over Fener.Both clubs have 18 domestic titles but Galatasaray are the only Turkish club to have won a European trophy (the UEFA Cup in 2000) and hold the upper hand over Fenerbahce in recent meetings. Just like in the United-Liverpool rivalry, that 19th title will be key.Olympiacos vs PanathinaikosThis Athens clash is dubbed ‘the derby of the eternal enemies’. The whole of Greece (well, the football-loving parts) grinds to a halt. Again, the difference is along class lines. Panathinaikos are from the centre of the city and seen to represent high society and this was resented by the port dwellers who followed their rivals.Flamengo vs FluminenseIt is time to leave Europe and where else to go but Brazil, the home of the ‘beautiful’ game and the country in which the next World Cup will be held. Flamengo-Fluminense (or Fla-Flu, to give it its nickname) is not a rivalry of class or status but has its roots in a group of disaffected footballers. Boca Juniors vs River PlateWe’ve probably saved the best for last. This is the Superclasico, that according to one British observer ‘makes the Old Firm look like a primary school kickabout’. Although they originally hail from the same area (Boca), because River moved to a more affluent part of Buenos Aires this is yet another divide along class lines. Boca Juniors are the club of the working class, the Italian immigrants whereas River are traditionally more popular in the upper reaches of Argentinian society. There is a history of hooliganism associated with this derby.Agencies