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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ISTANBUL, TURKEY – MARCH 08: Opponent players argue with each other during the Turkish Spor Toto Super League derby game between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on March 08, 2015. (Photo by Oktay Cilesiz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY – MARCH 08: Opponent players argue with each other during the Turkish Spor Toto Super League derby game between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on March 08, 2015. (Photo by Oktay Cilesiz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

8. Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray

The only rivalry on this list that not only is inner-city, but inter-continental, Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray is full of tension, terror and trepidation. With Istanbul split into two, stretching into both Asia and Europe, separated by only the Bosphorus which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, there are great geographical and social tensions within the city.

Each club has ties to Europe and Asia, representing each half of the city. The added dimension of the political frictions and social divisions between much of the city only added to the atmosphere. Fenerbahce, based in Asia, is often seen as the working man’s club, with Galatasaray representing the elitist Europeans. The geographical and social divisions have led to great violence, tensions and racial abuse during derby days, with the rivalry becoming more vicious in recent years.

The tension that encapsulated Constantinople as it was then known, turned to violence in 1934, with players joining fans’ fighting in a supposed friendly. Ever since, the match has been highlighted with abuse, assaults, antagonism and murder.

Perhaps the most famous incident between the two clubs occurred when Graeme Souness was manager of Galatasaray in the mid 1990s. Facing each other in the Turkish cup final, Galatasaray were the highly unfancied underdogs, but after winning the double-legged final in extra time, Souness found a giant Galatasaray flag, and planted it in the middle of the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, inciting great rage and anger from the Fenerbahce fans and elevating himself to Godly status with the European half of the city.

A rivalry with great history, based in a city with great history, between two continents with great history, Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray is one of the greatest rivalries in word soccer.

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