Smoke flares are seen as players walk onto the field before the first leg match between Boca Juniors ... [+]
Forget Super Bowl Sunday because Superclásico Sunday is on the way.
The debate over what might be the biggest rivalry or best game in club football could quite easily go on forever. Across nations and continents, neighbourhoods and cities are torn apart by football rivalries, both metaphorically and at times quite literally.
Tribal battles take place every weekend from Morocco to Mexico and South Africa to Spain. Every local football derby, no matter how small, means the world to the people that support its two clubs. Yet some rivalries are more recogniseable than others. Some rivalries are always front page global news and the Superclásico is exactly that.
Up there with Inter Vs Milan and Real Madrid Vs Barcelona is Boca Juniors Vs River Plate. For many the Superclásico is the “biggest” derby in world football.
Passion goes beyond reason in Argentina, and football is the perfect vehicle for a bit of madness. Sometimes that excitement is colourful and wonderful, on occasion it can turn hateful and over the top, but what cannot be disputed is that passion is certainly alive and well with regards to the Boca and River rivalry.
The days of away fans... Boca Juniors and River Plate's fans cheer their teams before the start of ... [+]
On derby day in Buenos Aires home supporters congregate in their masses outside the stadium hours and hours before the game. It is not uncommon for people to enter the stadium as soon as the gates open many hours before kick off and is also not uncommon for a few thousand people who don’t have tickets to try their luck getting into the ground.
Fans of the away side tend to stick to their own turf when watching the derby. Perhaps with a traditional barbecue amongst friends in their neighbourhood or just nervously on the sofa with a few family members, doors barred and windows closed.
Away fans have been banned from attending league games in Argentina for a decade now following consistent incidents of violence. An away goal in the Superclásico would be celebrated by those on the pitch and in the dugout but nobody in the stands. As you can imagine, the chants of the home fans don’t stop for any away goal either.
River Plate will be looking to silence the home crowd this Sunday as they travel to the Bombonera Stadium in La Boca; the neighbourhood where both teams were originally founded and called home. River Plate soon moved out, to the north part of the city, but no love has been lost.
Dario Benedetto of Boca Juniors pulls a face at Gonzalo Montiel of River Plate as he celebrates ... [+]
This Sunday’s league game comes at a tricky time for home side Boca. Either side of the derby thay will take on Brazilian giants Palmeiras in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals. They play the first leg at home on Thursday night but come 2pm on Sunday they will have to dust themselves down again to take on their grandest foe.
River have little else to focus on. Like Boca, recent form has been wobbly, but they are the current Champions of Argentina and over the course of 2023 have certainly been the more consistent side. La Bombonera stadium will be rocking and the home fans won’t worry about their busy schedule, they will be absolutely loving it.
River are out of the national cup and all continental competition, it isn’t what they would have wanted but they will arrive fresh for Sunday’s battle. The eyes of the world will be watching this incredible match in one of football's most glorious stadiums between two of the planet's most iconic and well supported clubs.
Julian Alvarez of River Plate celebrates after scoring the second goal during a match between River ... [+]
At the start of a new campaign that ends with play-offs, this game isn’t exactly a 6 pointer as far as the table is concerned. However, that couldn’t be less trivial for fans of Boca and River. For them even a ‘friendly’ game between the two would mean more than any cup final. It’s a level of rivalry that is unreasonable, beautiful and bursting with life.
Former Premier
