Serie A’s Greatest Rivalries – The Most Intense Matches to Look Out For

Whether they’re inter-city, inter-province, based on success or history and whether the teams are in Serie A, B or C, one thing is for certain – they’re fierce. Not only fiercely contested by the players desperate for victory, but for the fans who wish for bragging rights. Read on to find out about four of Serie A’s greatest inter-city rivalries.

Derby della Madonnina

Also known as the Derby di Milano, this long-standing rivalry is between the two prominent teams in the city of Milan: AC Milan and Inter Milan. The rivalry is intense, not only in Serie A but across all domestic competition including the Coppa Italia and Supercopa Italiana – and has even extended to the Champions League. Fiercer than most, largely because the two share the same stadium, the San Siro; the Milan derby began in 1908 when the two met in the Chiasso Cup.

Since then, the Rossoneri and Nerazzurri have met 170 times in Serie A with Inter on top with 72 wins, to Milan’s 62 (with 58 draws contested). Across all official competitions, Internazionale remain victorious with 80 wins to Milan’s 76 (and 67 draws) – the games are often toughly contested and in recent years, with few goals separating the two. Last season, Internazionale did the double over their rivals, winning 1-0 and 3-2.

This Season

AC Milan v Inter Milan – 21st September 2019
Inter Milan v AC Milan – 9th February 2020

Derby della Capitale

As its name suggests, the ‘Derby of the Capital’ is contested by the two clubs in Italy’s capital, Rome. Also known as the Derby di Roma, Roma and Lazio contest this derby and it’s considered the fiercest inter-city rivalry – even more so than the Milan derby. With the northern teams in Italy as dominant as they are, the rivalry against Roma and Lazio isn’t only to contest city bragging rights, but for victory across the country, which is one of the reasons why it’s so intense. The Rome derby isn’t as long-standing, with the two clubs first meeting in 1929 in Serie A.

I Giallorossi hold a superior advantage over their neighbours I Biancocelesti not only in terms of the domestic league (with 65 wins to Lazio’s 46, and 61 draws) but across all official competitions. In 188 games, Roma have won 71, lost 53 and drawn 64. In recent campaigns, Roma have been dominant; however last season, both teams won on home soil – and when the two meet, goals are a certainty.

This Season

Lazio v Roma – 1st September 2019
Roma v Lazio – 26th January 2020

Derby della Mole

While the Derby della Mole is considered the first derby in Italian football and the longest-disputed rivalry been two teams in the same city, the meetings between Juventus and Torino have been less frequent in recent years, as the Granata flit between the top two divisions of Italian football. For that reason, many see Internazionale as Juventus’ rivals and with the two battling it out at the top of the league, the Derby d’Italia is intense.

Going back to the Derby della Mole, Juventus and Torino first met in January 1907, which was Torino’s first competitive match. Torino were successful on that occasion, but the gulf between the two clubs is vast – with Juventus winning 70 of their 148 meetings in Serie A and 88 or their 200 official matches. While last season, Juventus managed a narrow win away from home and the two drew 1-1 at the Allianz Stadium, Torino have only beaten Juventus once this century, in 2015.

This Season

Torino v Juventus – 3rd November 2019
Juventus v Torino – 5th April 2020

Derby della Lanterna

The Derby della Lanterna gets its name from the lighthouse at Genoa’s port, with the Torre della Lanterna an ancient and famous landmark. This competitive derby is played out between Genoa, Italy’s oldest football club (founded in 1893) and Sampdoria, considered the newest (as in its current form, was founded in 1946). Because of this, the rivalry is fierce and like the Milan clubs, both teams share their stadium, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Despite their short history and rivalry, I Rossoblu and Samp have met a total of 98 times, across both Serie A and B and the Coppa Italia. In total, Sampdoria have bragging rights with a total of 38 wins, to Genoa’s 24; however, in Serie A Sampdoria have won and drawn 27 games from 72, and in Serie B, have won and drawn five games from 14. With so many draws between the two, it’s even sweeter when one gets a victory – a lot of the time, there’s a single goal between the two.

This Season

Genoa v Sampdoria – 15th December 2019
Sampdoria v Genoa – 3rd May 2020

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