If you live somewhere like Glasgow or Manchester where there is more than one club, youll know what its like on derby day.
No, youre almost certainly well aware of what its like way before derby day, with the build-up usually lasting an entire week and in some towns much longer. Friendships are divided and replaced by club loyalty.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks at rivalries in football, assessing them by passion and ferocity, all while ignoring idiots who try and ruin it for everyone.
One of football’s most iconic photos as Materazzi and Rui Costa look on during the Milan derby
10. Aston Villa vs Birmingham
Known as the Second City derby, Villa Park and St Andrews are about three miles apart and when they meet its usually memorable.
In a 2003 match, there was a 21-man brawl, trouble in the stands, two red cards and Robbie Savage being substituted for his own safety having been headbutted by Dion Dublin.
In 2011, Alex McLeish angered both sets of fans when he left Birmingham to take over at Villa, while one fan was jailed for running onto the pitch and hitting Jack Grealish in 2019.
A pitch invader is tackled by a steward after striking Jack Grealish at St Andrews last year
9. Partizan Belgrade vs Red Star Belgrade
Both clubs were formed in the aftermath of World War II, with Partizan representing the army and Red Star the police.
The latter’s European Cup success sets them apart, but to observers outside Serbia, football in the Eternal derby is secondary, with violence coming to define the fixture.
In 2015, the game was delayed because of crowd trouble, which saw 35 police officers injured.
Anti riot police officers stand guard as Red Star’s supporters burn torches in 2016
Partizan’s Marko Jevtovic vies with Crvena Zvezda’s Filip Stojkovic as smoke rise from the stands in 2017
8. Ajax vs Feyenoord
Another heavily politicised clash sees the liberal intellectuals of the Dutch capital take on the right-wing leaning Feyenoord fans.
This rivalry caught fire in 1983 when Johan Cruyff switched allegiances, resulting in riots at the following games.
Away fans were banned for several years in this fixture.
Feyenoord fans support their team during a TRAINING SESSION preparing for an Ajax clash
7. West Ham vs Millwall
The two east London clubs were perhaps the most infamous during Britain’s hooligan era, so much so that the war between the Inter City Firm and the Millwall Bushwackers has been depicted in several popular films.
Violence resulted in the death of a Millwall supporter in 1976, and the murder of a West Ham fan in 1986.
Most recently, the 2009 Upton Park riot led to widespread injuries, including a Millwall fan being stabbed before the match began.
West Ham fans are escorted by police towards Upton Park before the Championship match with Millwall in 2012
Police Horses hold back the West Ham fans during the Division One match between Millwall and West Ham at The Den in 2004
6. Lazio vs Roma
It’s slightly strange that Roma are associated with left-wing politics in the Derby della Capitale: they were founded when Mussolini merged three clubs in an attempt to create a counterpoint to the dominance of Juventus and the Milans. Lazio refused to join.
Both sets of Ultras are a violent lot. Note 2004, and a riot that led to 13 arrests and 170 injured police.
Paolo Di Canio’s fascist salute towards Lazio fans at the end of Lazio vs Roma in 2005
Riot police on the pitch during the Serie A match between Roma and Lazio in 2004
5. Celtic vs Rangers
World famous, ferocious and historic, their rivalry was stopped in its tracks by Rangers demotion in 2012.
It may not have the talent to match the days of old, when the likes Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne and Henrik Larsson were around, but Steven Gerrards appointment as Rangers boss and their return to the Premiership has upped the ante again.
Medics treat the injured after Celtic and Rangers fans had clashed after Celtic’s 1-0 victory in the 1980 Scottish Cup Final
Frank McAvennie of Celtic is grabbed by the throat by a Rangers player as Chris Woods in 1985
The rivalry still boils over today
4. Fenerbahce vs Galatasaray
In 2014, Galatasaray fans chose to recreate – via a gigantic stadium flag – the moment in 1996 when their then boss/psychopath Graeme Souness ran on to the Fenerbahce pitch and planted a Galatasaray flag in the middle.
Somehow, that insult delighted one half of Istanbul even more than the preceding victory.
A rivalry fuelled by petty hatred and chaos: we love it.
Fenerbahce soccer fans light torches as they support their team during the Turkish Cup Final match against Galatasaray in 2016
A match in 2018 descends into chaos on the pitch
3. Olympiakos v Panathinaikos
The derby of Athens’ eternal enemies can be lively. In 2012 it was abandoned after petrol bombs were set off in the stands.
In 2014, Panathinaikos boss Giannis Anastasiou was floored by an object thrown from the crowd and thousands of police were deployed in the following match to try to prevent trouble, but Anastasiou still got himself sent off.
Teams enter the pitch ahead of the Superleague match between Panathinaikos FC and Olympiacos in 2015
Clashes between riot police and Panathinaikos fans inside the stadium after the referee’s decision to postpone a match in 2015
Players of Panathinaikos cower behind riot police for protection from objects and flares thrown by rival Olympiakos fans
2. Al Ahly v Zamalek
It is no mean feat to be known as the most fearsome derby in the league when you consider the Egyptian Premier League has had to cancel seasons in recent years because of political unrest and fan violence.
This is a fixture that has had to be abandoned four times and is a game dividing Cairo down the middle between the red of Al Ahly and white of Zamalek, and even sees a foreign referee flown in because all the Egyptian officials are said to have a leaning towards one of the clubs.
Smoke and flares rise during the football match between Egypt’s Zamalek and Al Ahly Tripoli during their African Champions League in 2017
Al Ahly fans during a clash with Zamalek in Cairo in 2011
Zamalek vs Al Ahly rarely passes without incident
1. Boca Juniors vs River Plate
After a season in the lower leagues, River Plate returned to win the top tier in 2014. Great news for River, terrible news for the Buenos Aires police force.
“Derby day in Buenos Aires makes the Old Firm game look like a primary school kick-about,” explains Scottish journalist Gavin Hamilton.
With 70 per cent of the country said to have an allegiance one way or the other, you can see why.
In November 2018, ahead of the Copa Libertadores final between the two sides, the Boca Juniors team bus was attacked by River Plate fans on its way to the game for the second leg at River’s Estadio Monumental.
As a result of injuries to players, the game was postponed. The final was eventually played in Madrid, Spain.
Smoke flares are seen as players walk onto the field before the first leg match between Boca Juniors and River Plate as part of the Copa Libertadores final in 2018
Boca Juniors’ Pablo Perez after the attack on the Boca team bus
Boca fans during the first leg of the Copa Libertadores final in 2018