What do you see as the most fierce in european football?
Would be interesting to see what people perceive as the most intense rivalry in Europe.
Concider things like atmosphere and pure dislike of eachother not just sporting issues.

Personally i think theres nothing near the Old firm rivalry between Celtic and Rangers. The fans absolutely hate eachother and over the years several dozens of people have been killed or fatally wounded both pre and post match. The rivalry is fueled by the tensions in Northern Ireland between the Irish and the British along with the warring history between the two countries. The city is segregated and most british live in the opposite side of the river to the Irish.

I also believe that in terms of pure atmosphere that isn't staged like in Germany and south-european countries both Celtic and Rangers have the best atmospheres anywhere in the world. The players are homegrown and many of them fans of the club which makes the match itself very heated. The chants are very related to the cultural differnences and the issues in Ireland. Rangers often chant songs about the Irish famine and anti IRA songs while Celtic chant pro-IRA songs and often very abusive anti british chants. The atmosphere at this fixture is absolutely unmatchable and is by far the most fierce rivalry in Europe.

Real Madrid Barcelona is the best. I like Italian rivalries . I think The best Italian derby Lazio-Roma. Serbian rivalries are fierce too and from my country Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe ; Trabzonspor-Fenerbahçe ; Beşiktaş-Bursaspor but the bests are from 1. League Karşıyaka-Göztepe and Adanaspor-Adana Demirspor you can search for these two. I like Celtic-Rangers But after Rangers situation I dont know.

You want hate? check Braunschweig Vs Hannover 96. It stems from the freaking middle ages.

How can you think of El Clasico as the best, when it clearly isn't even close to the top 10 rivalries in europe. The fans have no passion except for small groups like Boixos Nois. It is just a sporting rivalry, when matches like Arsenal - Crystal Palace have better atmospheres than El Clasico its proves it clearly isnt close.

^you are right, I just noticed what you asked for. I consider that because of teams are very good.

^Yeah have you ever watched this^:

#Genious

That isn't rivalry, its just a game of football. I have never understood how people can be so excited for a match where there is no grudge in it what so ever.

@Soccerboss Do you think players diving, moaning at the referee and pushing eachother is a rivalry? Its the fans and what the club represent that makes the rivalry not hot headed players.

^ri·val: a person who is competing for the same object or goal as another, or who tries to equal or outdo another; competitor.

I think you have misunderstood what rivalry in football is. It isnt about who is competing for a title its being the dominating force in the stands of the local area or in a political context for example like in the Old Firm which is both.
If the fans don't hold a grudge its not a rivalry.

It is still a rivalry, since you see Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace a rivalry, you must think they have some factor that they both have to overcome to a goal, well F.C.B and Madrid battle for the title (or other famous titles almost every time they play so sorry but you need to understand what a rivalry is

^ There IS history behind this game. Just because you don't know it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Arsenal vs Crystal Palace is a local derby and is a rivalry. Real Madrid - Barcelona used to have an political issue due to the radical right wing catalan fan base but that for the most part has been eradicated in spanish society as spain is much more socialist now. And the ultra/hooligan sections have been banned from attending games.
There is zero atmosphere at El Clasico matches, why? Because the fans don't have passion for it. If the fans don't have passion for it, it isn't a rivalry.

I think Barcelona - Real Madrid is (one of) the most intense rivalries in Europe because the two teams have an immense amount of political, cultural, and sport history. The capital city of the royal family in Spain against the capital city of the Catalan state. The teams from the two biggest cities in Spain against one another. And this rivalry has been neck-to-neck since the two teams were founded, which makes it even better.

The game also involved some of the greatest ever players in history in it. Just to name a few:

Alfredo Di Stefano
Ferenc Puskas
Johan Cruyff
Diego Maradona
Romario
Michael Laudrup
Ronaldo
Zinedine Zidane
Roberto Carlos
Iker Casillas
Thierry Henry
Ronaldinho
Lionel Messi
Xavi Hernandez
Andres Iniesta
Cristiano Ronaldo

The sheer presence of these players makes the game a hell of a lot more interesting to watch, and for me, the most entertaining league game in world football. I mean, there's a reason it's the most viewed league match in club football every year. :D

Another rivalry I love to watch is Liverpool - Manchester United. Love that game. I try to watch it every year, whenever it comes around.

Its is pretty obvious El Clasico isn't a intense rivalry anymore. Back in the 80's the political and cultural history between Catalans and Castilians mattered because it was massive right wing sectors in both set of supporters and hence it was a intense rivalry with a tense atmosphere and a lot of violence connected to it because of that. Groups like Boixos Nois proves that Barca used to have a radical and passionate support while Real Madrid has never really had that due to it being the middle class team of spain while the other Madrid clubs like Atletico, Rayo and Getafe are all from working class neighbourhoods. Radical groups like Boixos Nois have all been banned from the Camp Nou and the political tensity have dimmed off.

May i repeat something, fans make the rivalry not the quality of football, title challenges or stellar name players.

@Dephased

That awkward moment when there isn't an epic fail.

Galatasaray - Fenerbahçe

"Concider things like atmosphere and pure dislike of eachother not just sporting issues"

What's the point ?
Do you think hooliganism a cool thing ?

'' Real Madrid - Barcelona used to have an political issue due to the radical right wing catalan fan base but that for the most part has been eradicated in spanish society as spain is much more socialist now. And the ultra/hooligan sections have been banned from attending games.
There is zero atmosphere at El Clasico matches, why? Because the fans don't have passion for it. If the fans don't have passion for it, it isn't a rivalry. ''

You come from Belgium and support Chelsea. You will never be able to understand what we who have grown up with a grudge for the people from those areas feel like when they taunt us and they feel the same when we chant abuse back at them. I dislike people from Chelsea, and most of them are either Fulham or Chelsea fans. But i don't dislike you because you don't represent that area. No i don't think it is a "cool" thing. It is just having a go at people you don't like and sticking by your mates. You can say its like war in a way. The clubs are our armies and represent where we are from.

Tell me do you hate Fulham for instance?