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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GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 27: Fans of Schalke and Dortmund are seen during the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund at Veltins Arena on September 27, 2014 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images)
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 27: Fans of Schalke and Dortmund are seen during the Bundesliga match between FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund at Veltins Arena on September 27, 2014 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

28. Borussia Dortmund vs Schalke

German football is stocked full of quality clubs, none more so than Borussia Dortmund and Schalke. The Ruhr Derby, as it is commonly known, is one of the biggest rivalries in German football, and like many on this list is a long-standing fight between fans. It is one the few rivalries that has developed over time, with fans becoming more aggressive towards one another during the Bundesliga Era. It is Schalke that holds the upper hand over the years, winning 57 of the 145 matches, including a 10-0 demolition of their German rivals in 1940.

However, since the creation of the Bundesliga, Dortmund have been the dominant force, winning two German titles in recent seasons under energetic manager Jurgen Klopp. And in 2007, Die Schwarzgelben recorded their sweetest victory. With Schalke leading the league with only 4 games to play, Dortmund spoiled the party for their noisy neighbors winning 2-0 with goals from Alexander Frei and Ebi Smolarek. Schalke slipped to second in the table and ultimately lost out to Stuttgart in the chase for the Bundesliga title.

The hatred between these two teams runs so deep that fans don’t even refer to the opposition city. Schalke fans label Dortmund by the municipality that Dortmund lies in, and likewise, Dortmund fans will not utter the dreaded name of Schalke, naming them “Herne West.” These clubs form such a rivalry that opposition fans don’t even refer to each other by name. An intense rivalry with intense fan bases.

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