Sports
Friends, neighbours and rivals: the Story of the Madrid Derby through the years
By: Nmerichukwu Igweamaka
The Madrid derby between the city’s two biggest teams – Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid – is a more than century-long story of friends, neighbours, and most of all, rivals.
Although the city of Madrid currently boasts five LaLiga teams, as Getafe, Leganes and Rayo Vallecano all have gained promotion in recent seasons, Real versus Atleti is the big one for many natives of the city, known as madrileños. The derby is now the most played game in Spanish football history, and among world football’s most celebrated fixtures.
After Real Madrid were officially established in 1902, and then Atletico the following year, the two sides faced off in various friendlies and unofficial meetings before the first recorded official meeting in the Campeonato Regional Centro, a 1-1 draw on 2 December 1906.
“El GRAN DERBI”: SEVILLA FC VS REAL BETIS
SEVILLA VS REAL BETIS, ALWAYS AMONG THE MOST COLOURFUL OF LALIGA’S DERBY CLASHES
Sevilla, the Andalusian capital, is home to one of Spanish football’s most colourful derby meetings, between the city’s two LaLiga sides, Sevilla FC and Real Betis. It’s such a big game that it’s become known as ‘El Gran Derbi’… “The Big Derby.”
Both among LaLiga’s most historic clubs, and both previous Primera Division title winners, the Seville derby rivalry is one which has divided allegiances and even families within the city for over a century.
A strong British influence existed when organised football was first played in Seville back in the last decade of the 19th century. The first club in Seville was created in 1890, while today’s Sevilla FC were founded in October 1904. Real Betis Balompie came into being just three years later.
After many official and unofficial early meetings in competitions as diverse as the Copa de Sevilla, Copa del Duque de Santo Mauro, Andalusian championship and Southern Regional Championship, the two clubs were founder members of LaLiga’s second tier, with Betis winning both 1928/29 meetings, 3-0 away and 2-1 at home.
THE VALENCIA DERBY: VALENCIA CF VS LEVANTE UD
LEVANTE’S CONTINUED RISE SEES THE VALENCIA CITY DERBY ESTABLISH ITSELF AS ONE OF LALIGA’S KEENEST LOCAL RIVALRIES
The Valencia city derby between Valencia CF and Levante UD has grown in recent years into one of Spanish football’s keenest local rivalries.
Also known as the ‘derbi del Turia’ for the river which runs through the centre of Spain’s third-biggest city, the fixture has really picked up steam in recent decades as Levante have established themselves in LaLiga Santander, with all the clashes and controversies that brings.
‘Los Granotas’ [the frogs] actually pre-date their local rivals by a decade, with Levante Futbol Club playing its first game in 1909, while based in the seaside El Cabanyal district of the city. Valencia Club de Futbol then arrived in 1919, closer to the centre at Mestalla, with the first ‘official’ derby being played the following year in the Valencian Regional Championship.
When LaLiga began in 1928/29, Valencia began in the second tier, earning promotion to the top flight within just three seasons.
THE BASQUE DERBY: ATHLETIC CLUB VS REAL SOCIEDAD
LALIGA’S BASQUE DERBY A UNIQUE FIXTURE IN WHICH LOCAL RIVALRY NEVER BREAKS COMMON BONDS
LaLiga’s Basque Derby is a unique fixture in world football, with the rivalry between Bilbao’s Athletic Club and San Sebastian-based Real Sociedad going way past just football.
The historic enmity between the Basque country’s two biggest cities, industrial Bilbao and aristocratic San Sebastian, found a sporting outlet when football arrived in the early 20th century.
Athletic Club, using the English spelling, was founded in 1898 by Bilbao-born engineering students who had studied in the United Kingdom. San Sebastian’s Real Sociedad de Futbol [Royal Society of Football] was soon established 100 kilometres along the coast in 1909, with the official seal of Spain’s King Alfonso XIII.
Exhibition and friendly games between the clubs immediately began, with the beginning of the Basque Regional League in 1913 bringing official status.
THE CATALAN DERBY: FC BARCELONA VS RCD ESPANYOL
LATEST INSTALLMENT OF LALIGA’S LONG-RUNNING CATALAN DERBY SURE TO BE EXTRA SPECIAL THIS YEAR
The rivalry between the two clubs dates right back to the beginnings of organised football in the city, three decades before the establishment of LaLiga. There have also been Catalan derbies (also known locally as the ‘derbi barcelonés’) through the years in the Copa Del Rey, Spanish Supercopa, Copa Catalonia and the now defunct Fairs Cup. While 25-time LaLiga winners Barcelona have often come out on top, Espanyol are always eager to upset their historically more successful neighbours.
The two clubs had similar but ultimately different origins at the turn of the 20th century. Barcelona were established by Swiss student Hans Gamper in November 1899, with many of the founder members coming from the city’s cosmopolitan ex-pat community. Espanyol were set up the following October, with locally-born engineering student Angel Rodriguez Ruiz as president and the team drawn mostly from migrant workers from other Spanish regions such as Andalucía, Extremadura, Galicia and even Madrid.
Sports
Mbah Receives EPL Trophy, Seeks Guinness’ Partnership to Grow Sports in Enugu
…Why we choose Enugu- Guinness, reports SANDRA ANI
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has expressed his eagerness to partner with Guinness Nigeria PLC to accelerate his administration’s sports development effort, describing the state as the home of sporting legends, who have ruled the world of sports as well as home of abundant talents for the future.
Mbah spoke when a team of Guinness Nigeria’s management showcased the English Premier League, EPL, trophy, to him at Government House, Enugu, on Friday.
It is recalled that Guinness Nigeria and the Premier League partnered to bring the iconic silverware for display in Enugu on Friday, May 16 and in Lagos on Saturday May 17 and Sunday, 18 to give EPL’s teeming fans in Nigeria the rare opportunity to experience the trophy.
Speaking during the presentation of the trophy at the Lion Building, Enugu State Government House, Mbah noted that beside putting in place legislative frameworks for sports development, his administration was also embarking on a massive reconstruction of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village preparatory to hosting the 2026 edition of the National Sports Festival.
“Like Guinness, we regard sports as a positive force in Enugu. We are not surprised that the Guinness flagship event is being held here in Enugu. Just like Guinness, we also see sports as a platform to foster social cohesion. We are not just paying lip service to sports; we actually have our skin in the game.
“We believe that the EPL is quite a spectacle with audiences across the world and you couldn’t have chosen a better city for the flagship event than Enugu.
“Again, since here is the home of Rangers and since we have also recognised that this is where it all happens, let us begin to think about more collaboration with Guinness to see how we can secure endorsement with the Guinness corporate brand. This should be on the table because Rangers also won the 2023/2024 Nigerian Premier League title.
“We are just about giving the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and Awgu Games Village a new lease of life, making sure they meet FIFA and World Athletics standards ahead of the National Sports Festival. So, we look forward to more strategic collaboration with Guinness. We are quite a business-friendly state,” he stated.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and the Corporate Relations Director at Guinness Nigeria PLC, Rotimi Odusola, described Enugu State as the spiritual home of sports in Nigeria, noting the exploits of Rangers.
He said it was only natural to choose Enugu for the display of the EPL silverware, given its history and the great job Governor Mbah had done in repositioning the state.
“Some may wonder why Enugu. There is a reason for us to choose Enugu as the first place in Nigeria since this trophy arrived yesterday. It is because we know that Enugu State is the spiritual home of football in Nigeria. As a young football lover, I can’t forget all of the stories around Enugu Rangers football team.
“I want to also appreciate you for the work you are doing. The last time I was in Enugu was in 2022 and I have seen remarkable improvements in Enugu State since my last visit.
“This presentation of the EPL trophy is an opportunity for us to reinforce Guinness Nigeria being a business that has been intricate in the fabric of Nigeria for 75 years. We also want to use this opportunity to create magical moments for our consumers and members of the public through the collaboration between Guinness globally and the English Premier League,” he added.
The event was witnessed by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Enugu State, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu; Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dame Ugochi Madueke; Director, Marketing and Innovations, Guinness Nigeria, Yinka Bakare; Director, Corporate Relations, Guinness Nigeria, Rotimi Odusola; Head of Marketing, Guinness Nigeria, Ramanathan Sollayepan; Head of Division, South-East Region, Guinness Nigeria, Adesoji Opeyemi; General Manager, Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, Barr. Amobi Ezeaku; and the Chairman, Enugu State Football Association, Barr. Tony Ugwu, among others.
MTN Nigeria, the official sponsor of the English Premier League (EPL) on SuperSport, successfully hosted an electrifying Manchester Derby watch party at Bay Lounge, Lekki, on April 6, 2025. Football fans gathered for a superb night of live-action football, engaging discussions, and exciting giveaways.
Building on the success of its previous Arsenal vs. Manchester United watch party, MTN Nigeria once again provided a premium viewing experience that brought fans together to celebrate their shared passion for football.
These fans enjoyed their match on a big screen among other football lovers. The Derby ended in a tense goalless draw that, while lacking in goals, was full of drama.
Fans erupted at every near-miss, debated tactical battles, and rode the emotional rollercoaster of a match that left City’s Champions League hopes hanging and reflected Manchester United’s season frustrations.
Looking ahead, this draw presents an opportunity for Newcastle United, as they could overtake City for fifth place if they secure a victory against Leicester City, who are battling relegation, on Monday; highlighting the competitive nature of the league and the dynamic possibilities for all teams involved.
Nwadinma Gregory, one lucky attendee who walked away with an MTN broadband MiFi, said “The energy at the MTN Nigeria watch party was absolutely incredible! Watching the Manchester Derby with fellow fans, experiencing every goal, every near miss and every thrilling moment together made it unforgettable. MTN really knows how to bring football lovers together for an amazing experience!”
One of the biggest talking points was Kevin De Bruyne, who recently announced this would be his final season at Manchester City.
Fans took the opportunity to reflect on his remarkable legacy. Mickhael Ehi, an attendee, shared his thoughts on De Bruyne’s impact and contribution to the team, highlighting the significance of his career at the club: “Seeing De Bruyne in what might be his last Manchester Derby was bittersweet. He’s been a Premier League legend: the assists, the vision, the leadership. Even if he wasn’t at his peak today, you could feel the respect from the crowd. Players like him don’t come around often.”
Lakinbofa Goodluck, MTN Nigeria’s PR Manager, highlighted the brand’s dedication to enhancing football experiences:
“At MTN Nigeria, we are committed to enriching the experiences of our customers and football lovers. The Premier League is more than just football; it’s about community, passion, and unforgettable moments, and we are proud to bring that to our fans.”
With the EPL season still in full swing, MTN Nigeria will continue to create unique engagement opportunities for fans, ensuring they stay connected to the game they love.
…reaffirms MTN Nigeria’s support following ‘draw’ with Zimbabwe.
MTN Nigeria, the official telecommunications partner of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), has reiterated its unwavering support for the Super Eagles following their spirited draw with Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifier match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
Building on the momentum from their recent victory against Rwanda, MTN Nigeria had expressed strong backing for the national team ahead of the crucial fixture. Tobe Okigbo, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, stated before the game, “We are confident in the team’s ability to make Nigeria proud and qualify for the World Cup.”
Despite the draw, MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Karl Toriola, maintained a positive outlook. “While tonight’s outcome wasn’t what we hoped for, we remain steadfast in our support for the Super Eagles. This result is just part of the journey towards World Cup qualification, and we believe in the team’s resilience and ability to succeed,” Toriola said.
The match showcased the Super Eagles’ grit and determination as they found their rhythm against the Zimbabwean side. Nigeria scored the first goal, demonstrating their prowess and fighting spirit, although the match ultimately ended in a draw. This result has added to the excitement of Nigeria’s path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
MTN Nigeria, which signed a deal with the NFF in 2021 as the Official Telecoms Partner, has been a constant pillar of support for Nigerian football for over two decades. The company’s commitment extends from grassroots to national levels, investing significantly in the development of local football.
“Our support for the Super Eagles and all national teams is part of our long-standing tradition,” Toriola added. “We are building a sustainable legacy of collaboration, growth, and development in the football space. Tonight’s result doesn’t change our belief in the team’s potential to make all Nigerians proud on the global stage. We believe in our Eagles.”
As the Super Eagles regroup and prepare for their next qualifier, MTN Nigeria has called on all Nigerians to rally behind the team. The company emphasized that this is a crucial time for unity and continued support, expressing confidence that the Super Eagles will overcome this challenge and strive towards securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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