Rivalries In Spainish Football facts for kids

Football is super popular in Spain! But it's not just about winning games. It's also about exciting rivalries between teams. These are matches where two teams have a long history of competing fiercely. Fans get really excited for these games! Spain has many famous football rivalries. The most well-known is called El Clásico.

Club Football Rivalries

In Spain, many football clubs have special rivalries. These often come from teams being in the same city or having a long history of important matches.

Big Club Rivalries

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid (El Clásico)

This is the biggest rivalry in Spanish football. It's between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. People call it El Clásico, which means "The Classic". These matches are always exciting. They feature some of the best players in the world. Millions of fans watch these games around the globe.

Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid (Madrid Derby)

The Madrid Derby is a rivalry between two big teams from the city of Madrid. These teams are Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. It's a huge game for fans in the capital city. Both teams want to be the best in Madrid. See this for more info.

Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid (El Otro Clásico)

This rivalry is between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. It is sometimes called El Otro Clásico, meaning "The Other Classic". Their first game was played way back in 1921.

Other Exciting Club Rivalries

Spain has many other local and regional rivalries that are very important to fans:

• Derbi Barceloní: This is a match between FC Barcelona and Espanyol. Both teams are from Barcelona.
• El Viejo Clásico: This means "The Old Classic". It's a rivalry between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
• Seville Derby: This game is played between Real Betis and Sevilla. Both teams are from the city of Seville.
• Valencia Derby / Derby of the Turia: This rivalry is between Valencia and Levante. Both clubs are from Valencia.
• Basque Derby: This match is between Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao. Both teams are from the Basque Country region.

National Team Rivalries

Sometimes, rivalries happen between national teams too! These are games where countries play against each other.

Spain vs. Portugal (The Iberian Derby)

The rivalry between the Spanish national team and the Portuguese national team is very old. It's called The Iberian Derby. Their first game was in 1921. Spain won that friendly match 3-1. They have played 37 games against each other. The most recent game was a 0-0 draw in 2020. Isidro Lángara is the top scorer in this rivalry with 9 goals. He scored 5 goals in Spain's 9-0 win during a 1934 World Cup qualification game!

Spain vs. Italy (The Mediterranean Derby)

The rivalry between Spain and Italy has been going on for a long time. It's known as The Mediterranean Derby. Their first match was in 1920 at the 1920 Olympics. Spain won that game 2-0. They have played each other 37 times in total. Their latest game was a 3-0 win for Spain during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification.