Spain is a land of pure and intense passion. Football is their pride and unites Spaniards like no other. However, when it comes to league football, the support becomes more fierce and sometimes nasty. That’s when one can easily predict a derby is on the horizon.
Spain’s league football is divided into 10 tiers, with La Liga EA Sports being the top flight. Heavyweights like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid have long been part of this prestigious competition.
Surely, these three teams have played a vital role in making the Spanish League one of the best in Europe. However, teams like Sevilla, Villareal, and Valencia have also contributed a lot to bringing success to the league.
That said, some of these teams are rivals by blood, and some are fairly new. Nevertheless, we’re going to glance at some of the iconic rivalries in Spanish football.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Real Madrid vs Barcelona, El-Classico
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, Madrid Derby
Barcelona vs Espanyol, The Catalan Derby
Sevilla vs Real Betis, The Seville Derby
Real Madrid vs Barcelona, El-Classico:
Arguably, Real Madrid vs El-Classico is the most heated rivalry, not just in Spain but in the entire Europe.
The reason?
Barcelona isn’t just a football club, it’s more than that. For the people of Catalonia, this club is their pride. On the other hand, Real Madrid has garnered the love of the Spanish people. So, when both teams collide, it becomes more than just a football game.
To distinguish between the two teams is fairly difficult. Simply because both the teams had rough patches in their history. Also, it’s a fact that when one of them flourished, the other suffered miserably.
Real Madrid has an upper hand when it comes to league and European success. While Barcelona has managed to bag the league trophy 27 times, Real Madrid won it 36 times. Coming to the European glory, Barcelona hasn’t been able to do much in the competition, winning it only 5 times. Real Madrid has grabbed the trophy for a record 14 UCL titles, more than any other club in the world.
Eyeing their 15th UCL title, Real Madrid is going to clash with the German giants on 2nd June in Wembley. If you’re a true Madridista and can’t support your team on the sidelines, don’t worry. Call teléfono de Spectrum as they’ve numerous sports channels like Fox Soccer Plus and beIN Sports. They’ll be streaming the live match in HD quality, you may feel like cheering for your team from the stands.
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid, Madrid Derby:
While the Barca-Madrid rivalry can be equated to a rivalry between Catalans and Spaniards, the Madrid derby divides the city in two.
In 1903, Real Madrid competed against Athletic Club in the Copa Del Ray final. Three Basque students, ardently watching the match were so impressed that 18 days later, they formed a club and named it Atletico Madrid.
In the past, especially in the late 90s to early 20s, the Madrid Derby was an unbeatable side. From 1999 to 2003, Atletico Madrid failed to win a single game against their city rivals, Real Madrid. However, things gradually changed when Atletico Madrid’s former player, Diego Simeone took charge of the club in 2011. Since then, he has managed to win La Liga 2 times, only behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Madrid Derby peaked when both teams met on the grand stage of the UCL final in 2014 and 2016. Failing to get their hands on the silverware, Atletico’s fans may still have nightmares of Sergio Ramos’s stoppage-time equalizer.
Everything aside, Atletico Madrid has developed a liking for Real’s home ground, Santiago Bernabeu. Out of their 10 Copa Del Ray trophies, they’ve won 9 finals in Real’s stadium.
Comparing the quality of squads both teams have, it’s a no-brainer to see a competitive match whenever they meet on the pitch.
Barcelona vs Espanyol, The Catalan Derby:
Maybe the Catalan Derby is one of the most-sided derbies in Spanish football. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most entertaining ones. Espanyol has always found it difficult to stay in the Spanish top-flight. As for Barcelona, they’ve always maintained their position in La Liga. Because of this, fans have to depend on domestic competitions like Copa Del Ray to witness this rivalry.
The Catalan derby peaked in the 2006/07 season when Barca desperately wanted a win against Espanyol. For Espanyol, a draw against Barca was a satisfactory result. The match ended 2-2, and Barca lost the league title by the barest of margins. Only if Barca had managed to get a positive result out of this match, they could have won their 3rd straight league title.
Sevilla vs Real Betis, The Seville Derby:
The Seville Derby is more like a never-ending war between the working-class fans of Real Betis and Sevilla’s elite. Most rivalries we see erupt because of regional differences such as one between Barca and Real Madrid or between the two Madrid clubs. However, this rivalry is quite different. And for that reason, it’s one of the best rivalries you can find in Spanish football.
Sevilla, using all the resources at their disposal, has made a statement by winning 7 UELs. Betis, on the other hand, always finds it difficult to stand out on the big stage. When it comes to La Liga, Betis and Sevilla have failed to displace the top teams, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atletico. However, they may feel like totally different teams when they’re up against each other. Be it their intensity, gameplay, and most importantly fans, both teams give out everything to come out on top.
Wrapping Up:
With millions of fans chanting for their respective teams, watching the football rivalries is no less than a spectacle. As fans, we’re sure that these rivalries won’t die over time. Because these rivalries have always played a major role in keeping football alive in Spain.
Hi there, I’m Alexander the owner of Punsgalaxy.com. I created this website to inject some humor into your life. I have a passion for laughter, and I’m certain you do too. Let’s exchange jokes, puns, and amusing nicknames together. Let’s fill every moment with joy.