The Spanish people are complex and admirable, yet they tend to be more proud of their territory than their country.
Various regional identities coexist, and on derby day, among other occasions, fans and players alike show their true colors. Here’s a look at some of the most prominent Spanish football rivalries.
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El Clasico Barcelona vs Real Madrid
An introduction is optional for this one. The intricacies and politics of El Clasico are too great to summarize in a single paragraph.
However, it suffices to say that this matchup between the two most prestigious teams in the world is still the most anticipated in football.
READ MORE – The Great North London Rivalry: When It Began and What to Expect
Unlike many other big football club rivalries worldwide, this one regularly delivers on the promise of exciting, high-quality play with plenty of scoring opportunities.
Although the match may have suffered in the years after Messi and Ronaldo left LaLiga, a new era may begin in the 2024–25 season with superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Lamine Yamal guaranteeing that the Clasico will still have its share of excitement.
The undying rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona is set to be an unforgettable event, drawing fans from all over the world who can afford to splurge on tickets to this clash.
You may be able to get El Clasico tickets on the home team’s website up until the day of the game, but club members usually buy them all before they’re available to the public.
The Madrid Derby Real Madrid vs Atlético
Real Madrid had a stranglehold on this city rivalry for a long time, but nothing gives Atleti supporters greater satisfaction than pulling a fast one on their famous neighbors.
The 2010s saw Los Rojiblancos emerge under Diego Simeone, elevating the competition to a more significant and even playing field.
Due to Atleti’s meteoric ascent, we even saw two Madrid derbies in the Champions League Final, with Los Blancos emerging victorious in 2014 and 2016.
Madrid has been called the European football capital in recent years, and this city derby is among the finest in the world in terms of quality and levels of play between the two sides.
While Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid squad won La Liga and the Champions League in 2023–24, they lost twice to Atleti, the only league losses that season.
Seville Derby Sevilla vs Real Betis
Every year, Real Betis and Sevilla battle in the local derby in the Seville area of Spain. A few years after Sevilla FC’s formation in 1890, an internal schism led to the formation of Betis FC.
Real Betis Balompie was established in 1914 after Betis and another nearby team, Sevilla Balompe, merged.
Sevilla won the first encounter between Real Betis and its rivals 4-3 on October 8, 1915. In the 137 meetings between the two clubs, Sevilla prevailed 65 times, Betis came out on top 40 times, and 32 matches ended in draws.
The Basque Derby Athletic Club vs Real Sociedad
Given the exceptional character of the Basque Country, it should come as no surprise that the most critical football match played there does not conform to the traditional derby format.
Local disputes always have certain unsavory aspects and heated atmospheres; sometimes, they must be closer.
On the other hand, when the two most prominent Basque clubs meet, supporters from both teams mix and mingle before the game and often end up sitting close to one another at the stadium.
Despite the cordial atmosphere, it is undeniably one of the most intense rivals in Spanish football.
Athletic have become increasingly successful throughout the years, and they have fearlessly maintained their “Basque only” attitude regarding transfers.
Although they compromised on that position when they signed John Aldridge in 1989, Real Sociedad is justifiably proud of their academy and their track record of developing local talent.
It also served them well in their 2020 delayed Copa del Rey Final victory over Athletic, which was arguably the most high-profile matchup between the two clubs.
Catalan Derby Barcelona vs Espanyol
The Derbi Barcelona is the name of the great derby in Catalunya between the two main teams in the city of Barcelona.
Due to FC Barcelona’s dominance, this derby rivalry has been one of the most one-sided in European football. However, their few derby gaffes have often been noteworthy.
The 2006–07 season was a bittersweet one for Espanyol supporters, as they saw a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in a match nicknamed “El Tamudazo” due to the two goals scored by visiting attacker Raúl Tamudo, who was instrumental in Barcelona’s inability to win the title.
After that, they haven’t had much to brag about; in 2023, when Espanyol was relegated to the second division, the RCDE Stadium hosted Barcelona’s championship festivities.
Keep Derbi Barcelona in mind for the 2024–25 Spanish football season; the Cornella-based team has risen to the top again.
Derbi de la Comunitat Valencia vs Villarreal
Valencia, a region in Spain, enjoyed almost complete dominion throughout the entire twentieth century.
Despite Levante’s increased prominence as a top-flight fixture in recent years, regional rivals Villarreal have surpassed Elche, Hercules, and CD Castellon to become Levante’s primary adversary in the Valencian Community this century.
Despite receiving substantial financial support, the Yellow Submarine have emerged from nowhere to challenge Valencia, consistently placing higher than their large city rivals and winning games regularly.
With the 2020 transfer of Dani Parejo, widely considered to be Valencia’s top player at the moment, to Ceramica, they have even begun squeezing their players. The 2020–21 Europa League was Villarreal’s first major title a year later.
With just four points separating the teams in the previous season, the 2024–25 season presents a more even playing field.
However, Valencia may still have a long way to go under the controversial ownership of Peter Lim before regaining their previous prominence in Spanish and European football.
