The feisty spirit of the derby

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Want to watch some wholesome sporting violence? Go where the football teams do battle.

Nothing beats the joy of watching a football game in a stadium, live. This week, this column offers you options for travelling to watch live “derbies” — games in which two clubs of the same city clash — that are recommended below. Here is a list of games, each of which takes place twice a year, and encapsulates the intensity of rivalries in this sport.

REAL MADRID AND BARCELONA
It is dubbed El Classico, not without reason. A game between these two clubs is more than a match. Apart from being the two top teams in Spain, the clubs belong to rival Spanish regions, Catalonia and Castile. The rivalry dates back to the early 1950s to the General Franco era and has only intensified since. In 2000, when Luis Figo left Barcelona to join Real, a bloody pig’s head was thrown at him while taking a corner. The next El Classico takes place on April 3.

CELTIC AND RANGERS
Who said sport must not mix issues? Drop in to Glasgow, Scotland. Rangers is a Protestant club while Celtic is Catholic. Both share the same city as home and on match day the city is divided. The fixture dates to 1888, when the two clubs clashed for the first time. The bitterness among the two clubs has only grown since then. Matches have been marred by sectarian chanting by fans, a far cry from castles and single malts. Celebrate Christmas in Scotland and catch this game on December 27.

BOCA JUNIORS AND RIVER PLATE
This one goes one better: it is called the Super Classico. The two most popular clubs in Argentina meet in the most intense clash in football. Be prepared for riots and deaths, standard fare when these two teams play. In 1968, over 70 fans died in a stampede during the match. This derby made it onto one list of 50 Sporting Things You Must do Before You Die. Buenos Aires is the place to go to catch this match. Unfortunately, you will have wait till August 2009 to catch a game between these two.

FENERBAHCE AND GALATASARAY
For supporters of these teams, winning the Turkish league is passé. If you beat your rival, it is a successful season. Fans are divided along class lines, with Fenerbahce supported by the working class and Galatasaray by the elite. Istanbul is split when the two teams take the pitch to play the game. Plan a trip to Turkey in April as on the 12th of the month, these two giants clash.

EAST BENGAL AND MOHUN BAGAN
The divide is no clearer than here. Go to Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium for this one. East Bengal represents people from eastern Bengal, while Mohun Bagan represents “Ghotis”, who hail from the west. East Bengal fans celebrate a win by eating hilsa fish, and their rivals celebrate with prawns.