What is a derby in football? The world's biggest rivalries

Some games carry a weight that the league table can't explain. They're called derbies, and they're where football's deepest passions live. Here's what the word means and where the biggest ones are played.

What "derby" actually means

A derby is a match between two clubs that are local rivals — traditionally from the same city or region. The term comes from England and originally implied geographic closeness, where supporters live and work side by side, which is what gives these games their edge.

Over time "derby" has stretched to cover any fierce rivalry, even between clubs in different cities, when the history and stakes are big enough.

City derbies

These are the classic kind — two clubs sharing one city:

• Manchester derby — Manchester United v Manchester City
• Merseyside derby — Liverpool v Everton
• North London derby — Arsenal v Tottenham
• Milan derby (Derby della Madonnina) — Inter v AC Milan
• Madrid derby — Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid

National 'super' rivalries

Some rivalries transcend a single city and define a whole country:

• El Clásico — Real Madrid v Barcelona, the biggest club fixture on earth
• Superclásico — Boca Juniors v River Plate in Buenos Aires, famed for its atmosphere
• Der Klassiker — Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund
• O Clássico — Benfica v Porto in Portugal

The Old Firm and beyond

In Scotland, the Old Firm (Celtic v Rangers) carries a history that goes well beyond football. Around the world, from Cairo's Al Ahly v Zamalek to Istanbul's Galatasaray v Fenerbahçe, the pattern repeats: two clubs, one city, a lifetime of bragging rights.

Why derbies are different

Form goes out of the window. A struggling side can lift its whole season by beating its rival, and a single derby goal can make a local hero forever. That's why these matches so often produce drama, red cards and stories that outlive any title race.

Follow the fixtures and results from every big rivalry in our match centre.