Hiram Moreno
Soccer derbies are usually exciting matches full of fervor in the stands between teams with a rich history and that are usually trendsetters in their respective leagues. Beyond this premise, some of these soccer derbies are not usually as evenly matched as people think, at least in the history of clashes between the two clubs, with the scales being heavily tipped towards one side or the other.
For this reason, on this occasion, we at JefeBet bring you a list of curiosities with the most unequal professional soccer derbies around the world. You will be surprised by some of them!
The Most Unequal Soccer Derbies in the World
10.- Rosenborg vs SK Brann
The clash between Rosenborg and SK Brann is one of the most anticipated season after season in Norwegian soccer, although Rosenborg – 26 times champions of the local league – leads the record with 49 wins, 27 draws and just 22 defeats, for a difference of 27 victories over its rival, which it will not be able to face for a while due to its relegation from the Eliteserien in 2021.
9.- Saprissa vs Alajuelense
Saprissa and Alajuelense star in the “Clásico Nacional” in Costa Rica, and with surveys showing that fans of both clubs make up 80% of the country’s supporters, it is not surprising that it is a highly expected match. However, Saprissa holds the upper hand not only in league titles (36 vs. 30) but also in head-to-head record, with 131 wins, 103 draws and 103 defeats, for a difference of 28 wins.
8.- Anderlecht vs Standard Lieja
28 victories also separate Anderlecht and Standard Lieja, with the former holding the advantage in the Belgian soccer derby with 85 wins, 56 draws and only 57 defeats. Anderlecht also leads Lieja by an absurd 24 league titles, so it may take generations of fans before the two teams are even.
7.- Ajax vs Feyenoord
We are leaving Belgium for the neighboring country of the Netherlands, where we find another soccer derby: Ajax vs Feyenoord, also known as “De Klassieker”.
Ajax, who have ruled the Eredivisie with an iron fist in recent years, are also in the driving seat in this clash, with 76 wins, 44 draws and 45 defeats, for a difference of 31 victories separating the two clubs, and the Amsterdam club also have an 18-title advantage over their rivals.
6.- Bolívar vs The Strongest
Our trip brings us back to América, specifically to Bolivia, where we will find the classic match between Bolívar and The Strongest. Bolivar has the advantage, with 91 wins, 74 draws and just 58 defeats, for a total of 33 victories, and also has twice as many league titles (30) as its rival.
5.- Benfica vs Sporting Lisboa
We return to Europe and visit the Iberian Península to go to Portugal, specifically to Lisbon where we find the Derby da Capital between Benfica and Sporting Lisboa, two of the three founding clubs of the First Division.
Again, the one who commands the head-to-head record also does so in titles, with Benfica holding a 33-win advantage with 82 wins, 45 draws and only 49 defeats, and is also Portugal’s top winner with 37 league titles, while Sporting has only 19.
4.- Basel vs Zürich
This trip now takes us to Eastern Europe and we visit the Alps in Switzerland, where Basel and Zürich are playing a “modern soccer derby” after both clubs played against each other in many leagues in the 21st century. However, Basel also lead by 33 wins, with 64 wins, 43 draws and just 31 defeats, and their 20 league titles are seven more than those of their rivals, although both are below Grasshopper in Swiss soccer (27).
3.- Juventus vs Inter
We make our first and only stop in Europe’s big five leagues, and you may be surprised to learn this, but Italy’s derby is more one-sided than you might imagine.
Juventus have won 85 of them, while drawing 45 and losing 48, for a total of 37 wins difference, and also double the number of Serie A titles (34 vs. 17). However, Vecchia Signora fans will surely not forget that it was precisely Inter who cut short their run of nine consecutive league titles, adding a piece of history to this soccer derby.
2.- Olimpia vs Motagua
Our last stops will be in Latin America, with the last one being in South America. But first, we stay in Honduras to find the Honduran soccer derby between Olimpia and Motagua, the two most winning clubs in local soccer with 34 and 18 league titles respectively.
However, Olimpia has a wide advantage in their record against each other, with 98 wins, 107 draws and only 60 defeats, for a total of 38 wins difference.
1.- Colo Colo vs U. de Chile
This journey ends in Chile, with the Chilean soccer superclassic between Colo Colo and U. de Chile, the country’s two most successful teams with 32 and 18 titles, respectively. Colo Colo has an abysmal advantage of 40 wins over its rival, with a record of 88 wins, 55 draws and only 48 defeats.
