Midlands Derby rivalry? Try Galatasaray v Fenerbahce...

Betfacts / Alsy / 09 November 2007 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Morgan in the driving seat - Alister Morgan looks at the fiercest derbies in world football

This weekend Aston Villa visit Birmingham while Newcastle travel to Sunderland. Fans on derby day may agree that the referee doesn't know his own father but, for the most part, heartfelt obscenities will be exchanged for 90 minutes.

Premiership derbies always raise the heart rate but, for the most part, physical confrontations are confined to the pitch. A select group of international derbies make Premiership affairs look as cordial as a Women's Institute tea party. Social, geographical and religious factors create additional hostility but sometimes teams hate one another for reasons long since forgotten.

There is an ancient Glasgow rivalry that registers on the 'fiercest derbies' Richter scale: Celtic versus Rangers. In the early years they enjoyed a cordial relationship but over a hundred years later there's still little chance of a Christmas card exchange this year.

Much is made of the religious divide between Catholic Celtic and Protestant Rangers. This may be true on matchdays but generally divisions can be sourced to Celtic fans' fierce defense of their Irish ancestry while Rangers fans view themselves as Scottish and British. Playing at least four times a year has taken some of the bile out of this fixture and with the police well drilled the passion only overflows on the pitch occasionally.

It's ironic that Graeme Souness, a player steeped in Old Firm tradition, caused a mini riot many miles from Scotland in what many consider to be the world's fiercest football rivalry. Fenerbahce versus Galatasaray is often described as 'civil war'. This description may be a touch dramatic but there's little Turkish delight associated with this attritional fixture.

In 1934 riots broke out in a 'friendly' match between the clubs. Play had to be stopped several times after goals were scored when players and fans engaged in fisticuffs and the fanatical rivalry continues to this day.

Souness remains a legend for half of Istanbul's residents after planting a Galatasaray flag in the centre circle of the Fenerbahce pitch after his underdog team secured a memorable Cup victory. It's fair to say it didn't go down too well with the Fenerbahce fans.

Brazil, the home of the beautiful game, has a fierce rivalry when Palmeiras and Corinthians meet but you have to travel to neighbouring Argentina for the world's most notorious fixture: El Superclasico.
It's not a local fixture but it's definitely loco... Boca Juniors versus River Plate is unlike any other game for support, atmosphere, intensity, media coverage and violence. It's estimated that 70% of Argentinean fans support one of these teams and media coverage begins days before the match.
When opposition fans arrive (brought in reinforced buses amidst a storm of abuse, bottles and occasional gunshots) television cameras focus on well-known 'captains' like arriving gladiators.

Riot police spend the day breaking up violent street skirmishes while the intensity inevitably increases inside a hostile stadium. Hundreds of officers, ready to baton first and ask questions later, separate thousands of fans. It's a considered a good game if the match is completed and there are no fatalities.

There will be no fatalities at St Andrews save the death of Steve Bruce's career if Birmingham loses to their local rivals. Villa has only lost once in their last six games and that was against Manchester United while Birmingham, despite recent improvement, has lost four of their last six.

Villa (2.74) is marginal favourite to beat Birmingham (3). The draw (3.25) will tempt many but to my mind Villa's superior speed and talent up front will win the day.

Sunderland only has two draws from their last six games but Newcastle hasn't won away since the first game of the season. Sunderland (2.94 to win) will make the running at home and I back them to take three points against a Newcastle side (2.78 to win) with severe travel sickness and I expect Kenwyn Jones to score. If there's a better striker outside of the 'big four' please let me know...

Tags: football derbies, Midlands Derby, Superclassico