Top 20 Most Heated Sports Team Rivalries

Top-20-Most-Heated-Team-Rivalries-in-Sports

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most legendary athletic rivalries of all time! However, we’ll be saving collegiate teams and competition on the national scale for another day.

#20: West Ham United F.C. & Millwall F.C
English Football
This long standing rivalry from the world of English football has been going on since before the twentieth century. The West Ham United F.C. and Millwall F.C. first played each other all the way back in 1899, and their competitive spirit has not diminished in the slightest. Unfortunately, this spirit exists today largely within English football hooligan culture, and there have been many reports of violent outbursts between supporters of both clubs. A police presence is usually required at matches as a result of this legacy, so as to ensure that a meeting between West Ham and Millwall doesn’t wind up with a tragic end.

#19: Chicago Bulls & Detroit Pistons
NBA
Teams can become rivals for a number of reasons, but there’s no denying that the careers of the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons would’ve likely been very different had Michael Jordan not entered the game. It’s Jordan’s ascent to the apex of the basketball world that was so integral to denying the Pistons’ championship dreams. This rivalry can be dissected from a number of different angles, however, including one that celebrates just how good the Pistons were; good enough to stop the Bulls early on in the late ‘80s. Then, there was that period of Chicago dominance, the Jordan era that was not loved at home by Pistons player Isaiah Thomas, who was Chi-town born. It all came together as a rivalry for the ages.

#18: Borussia Dortmund & FC Schalke 04
German Football
It’s known by fans as the “Revierderby,” a meeting between two legendary rivals of German football, Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04. Fans stake their claims across color lines, as supporters of both teams vehemently deny each other at every turn. Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 have enjoyed a competitive legacy over the years, while some of their games have actually seen fans storming the pitch, creating chaos on the field. That said, both of these star German teams retain a respect for the other’s collective skill, and it hasn’t been unheard of for either Borussia Dortmund or FC Schalke 04 to support each other on a financial level when times have become tough.

#17: S.L. Benfica & FC Porto
Portuguese Football
If it seems as if every country retains their internal football rivalries, that’s because they do, and this definitely applies to Portugal’s S.L. Benfica and FC Porto. Matches between these two teams are known as “O Clássico,” setting both clubs apart from the other member of Portugal’s “Big Three” of football, Sporting CP. This rivalry is a competitive one, and based primarily upon both Benfica and Porto’s status as strong, winning teams. Their fans are also highly dedicated, and bring this energy to the stands every time these two clubs meet on the field. Oddly enough, however, S.L. Benfica and Porto’s rivalry remains one that’s primarily centralized within Portugal, as “O Clássico,” has never spilled out into other areas of European football competition.

#16: Dallas Cowboys & Washington Commanders
NFL
There’s a lot of money and success behind the scenes of both the Dallas and Washington football teams. This rivalry is a long one, dating back when the Washington team was known as the Redskins, and they were put in the same division as an upstart expansion team, the Dallas Cowboys. This placement meant that both Washington and Dallas would play twice a season, leading to a familiarity that bred a fierce competition. The rivalry also included a 1961 prank by Cowboy fans who took offense to Washington owner George Marshall’s segregationist signing policies. Even television commercials got into the act, often playing up this historic NFL rivalry to humorous effect.

#15: Edmonton Oilers & Calgary Flames
NHL
It’s the Canadian province of Alberta that serves as ground zero for our next sporting rivalry, this time within the National Hockey League. The Calgary Flames represent the most densely populated city in Alberta, while the Edmonton Oilers serve as the team behind the province’s capital city. This “Battle of Alberta” has resulted in years of fierce competition, and a fan rivalry that’s up there with any other in the NHL. The Oilers/Flames rivalry also has a lot to do with the differences between each city’s political ideologies, from Calgary’s historically conservative background to the more liberal-leaning Edmonton. Said simply, a game between these two teams is virtually guaranteed to bring sparks to the ice.

#14: Olympiacos & Panathinaikos
Greek Football
We’ve seen a lot of unique monikers for football rivalries over the course of this list thus far, but perhaps none of them possess one as dramatic as this one: the derby of the eternal enemies. This name is utilized to represent one of Greek football’s most infamous pairings, that of their Olympiacos & Panathinaikos clubs. Coverage of their games is important enough to merit exposure in countries outside of Greece, while the actual games themselves are noteworthy for their intensity and competitive spirit. It’s a true clash of the titans that no fan of Greek football would likely miss for any reason.

#13: Green Bay Packers & Chicago Bears
NFL
The numbers speak for themselves: both the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears have enjoyed a lot of success over the years. And it’s been this success that’s helped contribute to their professional rivalry. Well, that and the fact that their meetings have always been physical, with one game in 1924 becoming infamous for being the first instance of NFL players being tossed out of the match-up for fighting. Beyond this, it also comes down to the quality of players performing on both squads, as well as the eternal hunt for trophies and accolades that makes this rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears so interesting to watch.

#12: Dinamo Zagreb & Red Star Belgrade
Croatian Football
There’s always been a competitive fire burning between the Croatian football teams Dinamo Zagreb and Red Star Belgrade. This rivalry dates all the way back to when both teams were still a part of Yugoslavia, an era that was marred by the Dinamo-Red Star riot of 1990. It was actually political tensions surrounding Croatia’s imminent independence that seemed to fuel this riot, leading to an atmosphere at Maksimir Stadium that was akin to a pot about to boil over. The end results of violence between supporters of both teams was tragic and costly, resulting in over sixty people being injured.

#11: Ajax of Amsterdam & Feyenoord of Rotterdam
Dutch Football
“De Klassieker” is the term used to describe this meeting between two of The Netherlands’ most talented and supported football clubs, Ajax of Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam. This professional rivalry is one similar in sports to “The Battle of Alberta.” This is due to the cultural differences between the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam with regards to perceptions of working within the arts, as opposed to manual labor. Supporters of Feyenoord Rotterdam have even been known to utilize the saying, “while Amsterdam dreams, Rotterdam works,” to describe this socio-economic divide. Unfortunately, historical examples of fan violence and even death have followed this rivalry, including a match from 1997 that saw the death of Ajax supporter Carlo Picornie.

#10: Los Angeles Dodgers & San Francisco Giants
MLB
This rivalry from Major League Baseball is all about geography. Specifically, it all started when the Dodgers and Giants were moved out west from their previous homes in New York City. Both teams were transplanted to California, while New York received a consolation prize in the form of the Mets. The resulting move to a pair of California cities already known for their rivalry bled into the Dodgers and Giants, creating tensions that are still present amongst fans today. Both teams have enjoyed winning records in the decades since their east coast exodus, while their fans at home have experienced tragic instances of violence, including a murder in 2003 and an Opening Day stabbing in 2009.

#9: Fenerbahçe S.K. & Galatasaray S.K
Turkish Football
All eyes of Turkey’s football fans are drawn to The Intercontinental Derby, which is the name given to match-ups between two of the country’s most competitive football teams, Fenerbahçe S.K. & Galatasaray S.K. It’s a bitter rivalry, to be sure, with stories of riots dating all the way back to when the teams played each other in 1934. This trend unfortunately continues today, with bad behavior often occurring in the stands and in the streets outside of the games. This connection with football hooligan culture has unfortunately marred what could otherwise be captivating matches between two talented Turkish teams.

#8: AC Milan & Inter Milan
Italian Football
We imagine that one could probably cut the tension with a knife over in Milan’s San Siro Stadium, a place where two of Italian football’s fiercest rivals call home. Yup, both AC Milan and Inter Milan play their intensely-competitive games at San Siro, a place where fans make sure to separate themselves before play. Supporters of Inter Milan are largely generalized as “upper class,” while AC Milan possesses a reputation for blue collar, proletariat representation. This, of course, all depends upon one’s point of view but there’s no denying that fans of both teams rarely commingle. Instead, San Siro stadium sees these rival games employing a “north versus south” seating arrangement.

#7: Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers
NBA
It’s one of the most iconic feuds in professional basketball, and also the first appearance of Boston, Massachusetts on this list. Spoiler alert! It won’t be the last. That’s because sports is a BIG deal in this town, with the capital city having entered into a number of different rivalries over the years. The one between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers is among the most iconic, however, thanks largely to the personalities involved. Legends of the game from Larry Bird to Magic Johnson have personified this rivalry, while the Celtics, to their credit, holds the esteemed honor of possessing a winning record over the Laker franchise.

#6: Liverpool FC & Manchester United FC
English Football
One of the commonalities seen thus far in this list is how certain cultural differences between cities can lead to the rivalries of their sporting teams. This is definitely the case between Liverpool FC and Manchester FC, two titans of English Football. This one is a bit different, however, since the actual cities themselves possess a competition that dates all the way back to the Industrial Revolution. Liverpool and Manchester aren’t located very far away from each other, and this has resulted in an economic rivalry that poured over into the sporting world. What does this mean for football fans in the end? Competitive games, exciting play and a fire that ignites every time Liverpool and Manchester United square off.

#5: Real Madrid CF & FC Barcelona
Spanish Football
There’s a surface-level similarity between this rivalry of Spain’s Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona to that of Benfica and Porto in Portugal. The word “Clásico” is used to describe any instance of competition between these two rivals, although it should be said that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona’s history together is deadly serious. Real-life political tensions are largely tied to this rivalry, specifically Barcelona's representation of Catalan independence and Madrid’s tethering to Spanish nationalism. Emotions have always run high as a result, with supporters often blurring the lines between politics and pastime to a startling degree.

#4: Boston Red Sox & New York Yankees
MLB
One doesn’t even really need to be a sports fan to know about this infamous rivalry from Major League Baseball. It was the Boston Red Sox’s selling of legendary slugger Babe Ruth to the Yankees back in 1919 that led to the “Curse of the Bambino.” This alleged curse resulted in a more than eight decade stretch in which the Sox didn’t win a World Series and laid the groundwork for one of baseball’s greatest rivalries. Then again, sometimes even the toughest curses come to an end, and the Boston Red Sox finally clinched a World Series win in 2004.

#3: River Plate & Boca Juniors
Argentina Football
There are few sports fans as dedicated to their teams as football supporters. This “live or die” attitude towards fandom can definitely be applied to the long standing rivalry between two Argentine football clubs, River Plate and Boca Juniors. The deal behind both teams is so big that when they play a “Superclásico” (as it's called), fans often show up hours in advance to cheer and tailgate. That said, fans of the visiting team rarely show up at all, since violence has also been known to erupt for away fans who dare root for the opposition. There also was a tragic accident in 1968 in which 71 people were killed during a stampede.

#2: Boston Bruins & Montreal Canadiens
NHL
The city of Boston returns once again, this time for their intense rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League. This latter team is no stranger to toughing it out against rival opponents, as evidenced by their games against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That said, their Boston feud is something else, a rivalry marked by physicality and a competitiveness unlike many others in the NHL. A 1955 brawl between players from both teams following an incident of high sticking, snowballed into suspensions, fines, forfeited games and an eventual riot at the Montreal Forum on March 17th of that year.

Before we name our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions

Arsenal & Tottenham Hotspur, English Football
The North London Derby Is Ground Zero for this Rivalry

New York Knicks & Miami Heat, NBA
Pat Riley Has Actually Coached Both Teams

Esteghlal F.C. & Persepolis F.C., Iranian Football
An Intense Derby from the Persian Gulf

New South Wales & Queensland, National Rugby League
A State of Origin Classic

#1: Celtic & Rangers
Scottish Football
Glasgow’s Celtic and Rangers football clubs are no strangers, having stared down each other more than four hundred times over the course of their existence. Both teams are known by fans as “Old Firm,” and their rivalry is one that’s again steeped in tense, high-stakes political beliefs and ideologies. Scottish identity and culture is behind much of what makes the Celtic and Rangers rivalry so intense, including arguments concerning religion, nationalism and conservative versus liberal politics. Lines between athletics and everyday life become blurred as a result, making a simple sports rivalry something that transcends a mere physical contest.

Who do you support in some of these historic rivalries? Let us know in the comments!