Fansided

30 best soccer rivalries in the world

By Andrew Dowdeswell

MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 23: Shirts bearing the names of Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF are seen on display at a merchandise stall prior to the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 23, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 23: Shirts bearing the names of Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF are seen on display at a merchandise stall prior to the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 23, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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Benfica’s and Porto’s players observe a minutes silence in honnor late football star Eusebio da Silva Ferreira before the Portuguese football match SL Benfica vs FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon on January 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images)
Benfica’s and Porto’s players observe a minutes silence in honnor late football star Eusebio da Silva Ferreira before the Portuguese football match SL Benfica vs FC Porto at Luz stadium in Lisbon on January 12, 2014. AFP PHOTO / FRANCISCO LEONG (Photo credit should read FRANCISCO LEONG/AFP/Getty Images) /

14. Benfica vs Porto

Earlier in this list, Benfica was featured with a heated rivalry with fellow Lisbon club, Sporting Lisbon. The distance of only 2.8 km separating the two clubs is the driving force of the aggression between the two clubs. Here, however, it is a city to city rivalry. Lisbon and Porto are the two biggest cities in Portugal, and Benfica and Porto are the wealthiest and influential clubs in the two cities.

Similarly with many rivalries, the animosity between the clubs comes from the contrasting political and social standings of the two cities and sets of supporters. While the rivalry does not necessarily incite violence when the two clubs face each other, the success of both teams has led to both consistently competing with each other for domestic and European titles.

When the Primeira Liga was created in 1934, Porto and Benfica split the first six titles, winning three each. This dominance has continued throughout the years, with both clubs competing for the Portuguese title nearly every season. It is the continued success and the consistent competition between the two for well over 50 years has created the rivalry that still exists today.

The greatest period of dominance for either club was during Benfica’s glory years in the 1960s. With one of the greatest strikers of all time in Eusebio, Benfica won eight league titles in 10 years and two consecutive European Cups, beating Barcelona and Real Madrid in each final. Porto were able to dominate the early 2000s with Jose Mourinho at the helm, and Benfica didn’t win a Portuguese title for 10 years.

The rivalry is still going strong now, with both clubs still fighting for the top spot in Portuguese football.

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