The derbies of Argentine football are characterized by historical rivalries and the intense passion of the clubs' supporters. A distinction is usually made between historic and modern derbies; the latter emerge when at least one of the teams already had a previous rivalry with another club, eventually becoming their new primary derby. In some cases, these new rivalries gain momentum as the importance of historic derbies diminishes due to a lack of regular matches, especially when clubs compete in different divisions for prolonged periods.[1]
Football is the most popular sport in Argentina. This leads to derbies being followed with great interest, in some cases even beyond the country's borders.[3][4] The most notable historical rivalries are outlined below.
The Superderby (Superclásico) is the most important football match in Argentina, contested between the two most popular and successful clubs in the country:[5]Boca Juniors and River Plate.
Both clubs are based in the city of Buenos Aires, and the match draws the attention of large crowds not only in Argentina, but in many countries around the world. It is recognized by many for the passion displayed by the fans both during the match and in the build-up.[6][7]
Although it is a nationwide derby—given that the two clubs command approximately 70% of the country's football fans between them[5]—this rivalry began as a neighborhood dispute in the early 20th century, when both clubs shared the La Boca district. It has had numerous chapters that have gone down in the history of Argentine sport, both positive and negative.[8]
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA and CONMEBOL. When a match is decided by a penalty shootout, the result after 90 minutes (or 120 if extra time was played) is counted as the final score, regardless of the eventual winner; goals scored in the shootout are not added to the goal count.
Updated to the last match played on November 9, 2025.
The Avellaneda derby (clásico de Avellaneda) is the football match between Independiente and Racing Club. It is widely considered the second most important rivalry in Argentine football. Both clubs are based in the city of Avellaneda (part of the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area) and their stadiums are located less than 300 meters apart, intensifying a historic rivalry that dates back to the early 20th century.[9][10][11]
Racing was founded in Avellaneda in 1903 (when the city was still named Barracas al Sud), while Independiente was established in neighboring Buenos Aires in 1904 (officially 1905). After relocating its home ground several times across different neighborhoods, Independiente settled in Avellaneda in 1907. The first official match between the two resulted in a shock 3–2 win for Independiente. This result sparked the rivalry that continues to this day.
Avellaneda is one of the few cities in the world to be home to two World Champion football clubs. This derby holds the distinction of being the first to be contested between two Copa Libertadores winners, as well as the first Argentine derby played between two Intercontinental Cup champions.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA and CONMEBOL.
Updated to the last match played on March 16, 2025.[12]
Players from both teams posing together before a derby in the 1940s.
The Rosario derby (clásico rosarino) is the football match between the two most successful clubs in the city of Rosario: Newell's Old Boys and Rosario Central. It is widely considered the most important derby in Argentina between clubs not based in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.
The rivalry dates back to 1905, when the first official match ended in a 1–0 victory for Newell's. Since then, the clubs have faced each other in various competitions, including the local Rosario Football League, the Argentine Primera División, national cups, and international CONMEBOL tournaments.
The teams' nicknames originate from a well-known incident in the 1920s, when Rosario Central allegedly refused to play a charity match for a leprosy clinic, earning them the moniker Canallas (Scoundrels). Newell's Old Boys stepped in to play the game and were subsequently dubbed Los Leprosos (The Lepers).
Newell's Old Boys and Rosario Central are the only clubs from the interior of Argentina (outside Greater Buenos Aires) to have won official AFA national titles in both the Primera División and national cups. Furthermore, both institutions have been recognized by FIFA as "Classic Clubs" of Argentine football, an honor held by only 11 clubs in the country.[15]
The derby is renowned for its intense passion and historical rivalry. Several sociological studies on football indicate that Rosario is one of the few urban areas in Argentina—along with La Plata, Santa Fe, Córdoba, and San Miguel de Tucumán—where the local clubs surpass the popularity of the nation's two giants, River Plate and Boca Juniors.[16][17]
The derby between Huracán and San Lorenzo de Almagro is historically known as the "Porteño derby" (Clásico porteño). It originated from the geographic proximity of the two clubs, which are rooted in bordering districts in the south of Buenos Aires. For decades, their stadiums were located just eight blocks (approx. 500 meters) apart.
While it began as a local rivalry, it has grown to become one of the most significant matches in Argentine football, often cited as the third most important derby in the country after the Superclásico and the Avellaneda derby. Both institutions are among the oldest and most successful in Argentina, and both are recognized by FIFA as "Classic Clubs" of the country.
San Lorenzo was founded in April 1908 in the Almagro neighborhood, but soon moved to Boedo, where its iconic stadium, the Viejo Gasómetro, stood until 1979. In 1993, the club inaugurated its current stadium, the Nuevo Gasómetro, in the nearby Flores district. Huracán was founded in November 1908 in Nueva Pompeya and later established its headquarters and stadium in Parque Patricios, a neighborhood that borders Boedo.
The rivalry permeates the literature and daily life of these southern Buenos Aires neighborhoods. Although San Lorenzo has historically dominated the head-to-head record and is considered one of the "Big Five" of Argentine football with a massive nationwide fanbase, Huracán has maintained its status as a fiercely traditional rival, especially during the amateur era when it was a dominant force.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA.
Updated to the last match played on February 8, 2026.
The La Plata derby (Clásico platense), also known as the "Derby of the diagonals" (Clásico de las diagonales) due to the city's distinctive urban layout, is contested between the two major clubs in La Plata: Estudiantes de La Plata and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata.[21]
The first official meeting between the two teams took place on August 27, 1916, during the First Division Championship of the amateur era, following Gimnasia's promotion in 1915. Gimnasia won that inaugural match 1–0 thanks to an own goal by Ludovico Pastor. Since then, the rivalry has become one of the most prominent in Argentine football, with a long tradition of clashes in regular league championships, national cups, and, starting in 2014, in CONMEBOL international tournaments.
The Córdoba derby (clásico cordobés) is the major football rivalry in the city of Córdoba, contested between the two most popular clubs in the province: Belgrano (nicknamed Los Piratas) and Talleres (nicknamed Los Matadores).[23][24]
It is one of the oldest derbies in Argentina, with the first match dating back to May 17, 1914, which ended in a 1–0 victory for Belgrano with a goal by José Lascano.[25] With over 400 matches played (including friendlies), it is the most frequently contested derby in Argentine football history.
In official matches (AFA and Regional Leagues), Talleres holds an advantage of 20 wins over Belgrano. However, when counting the absolute total history, including friendly matches, the record is remarkably even: as of October 2025, both clubs have won 133 matches each, with 139 draws.
The exact number of historical encounters is sometimes debated due to anomalies in the early tournaments of the Liga Cordobesa de Fútbol. Furthermore, there is a record of a match played in 1975 for which no result is known, as the local press boycotted the coverage of the event.[26]
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA and the Córdoba Football League.
Updated to the last match played on October 5, 2025.
The Santa Fe derby (Clásico santafesino) is contested between the two major football clubs in the city of Santa Fe: Colón (nicknamed Sabaleros) and Unión (nicknamed Tatengues).
The rivalry dates back to the amateur era, with the first recorded match taking place in 1913, a friendly which Colón won 3–2. The teams have faced each other across three distinct eras: the amateur period (1913–1931), the professional Liga Santafesina de Fútbol (1931–1939), and finally within the AFA national system (from 1948 onwards). The first official AFA match occurred on August 1, 1948, during the Second Division championship, resulting in a 1–0 victory for Colón.
Similar to Rosario, La Plata, and San Miguel de Tucumán, Santa Fe is considered one of the few cities in Argentina where the local clubs enjoy greater popularity than the national powerhouses, Boca Juniors and River Plate. As of February 14, 2026, Colón is the only team in the city to have won an Argentine tournament, winning the 2021 Copa de la Liga.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA and the Santa Fe League.
Updated to the last match played on October 1, 2023.
The Tucumán derby (Clásico tucumano) is the football match between the two most important clubs in the province of Tucumán: Club Atlético Tucumán (nicknamed El Decano) and San Martín de Tucumán (nicknamed El Santo). Both clubs are based in the provincial capital, San Miguel de Tucumán. It is widely considered the most important derby in Northern Argentina due to the large fanbases of both teams and the historical significance of the rivalry in the region.[27]
In September 2021, historical research updated the official head-to-head record by validating a match played on June 8, 1913, which ended in a 10–0 victory for Atlético Tucumán, the largest margin of victory in the history of the derby.[28] It is, alongside the Córdoba derby, one of the most played games in the history of Argentine football.
Throughout their history, Atlético Tucumán has won 76 official titles (regional and national), while San Martín has won 65.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA, the Consejo Federal, and the Tucumán Football League.
Updated to the last match played on September 5, 2021.
The Western derby (Clásico del Oeste) is a football rivalry contested between the two most prominent clubs in the western part of the autonomous city of Buenos Aires: Ferro Carril Oeste and Vélez Sarsfield. The fixture takes its name from the geographical location of both clubs, which are situated west of the city's historical center.
The rivalry dates back to the amateur era, with the first official match played on June 6, 1920, resulting in a 5–0 away victory for Vélez Sarsfield. Although it is one of the oldest derbies in Argentine football, it has not been played officially since June 24, 2000. On that date, during the Clausura 2000 tournament, Vélez defeated Ferro 1–0 away. Following that season, Ferro Carril Oeste was relegated to the Primera B Nacional (second division) and has yet to return to the top flight as of 2026, leaving the derby dormant for over two decades.[29]
Historically, Vélez Sarsfield leads the head-to-head record. Since the inception of the professional era in 1931, Vélez has maintained a consistent advantage over their western neighbors.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches (Amateur and Professional eras) recognized by the AFA.
Data updated to the last match played on June 24, 2000.
The Southern derby (Clásico del Sur) is the football match contested between Banfield and Lanús. Both clubs are located in the southern zone of the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area, with their stadiums separated by approximately 4 kilometers.
Unlike many other Argentine derbies that date back to the early 20th century, this is considered a "modern derby." Historically, Banfield's main rival was Los Andes (from the Lomas de Zamora district), while Lanús's traditional rival was Talleres de Remedios de Escalada. During the 1960s and 1970s, the fanbases of Banfield and Lanús maintained a friendly relationship.
The rivalry intensified during the 1980s and 1990s, as both teams competed simultaneously in the Second Division for promotion and subsequently consolidated their positions in the Argentine Primera División. The institutional growth of both clubs, combined with the decline of their traditional rivals, solidified this fixture as the most important matchup in the southern region of the conurbation.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA.
Updated to the last match played on November 3, 2025.
The Villa Crespo derby (Clásico de Villa Crespo) is the football rivalry between Atlanta and Chacarita Juniors. The rivalry originated in the Villa Crespo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, where both clubs had their stadiums located virtually next to each other between 1922 and 1944.
For over two decades, the grounds were separated only by a party wall, with Atlanta's stadium at Humboldt 470 and Chacarita's at Humboldt 345. In 1944, Chacarita Juniors moved its stadium to Villa Maipú in the San Martín Partido (part of the Greater Buenos Aires metropolitan area), but the rivalry remained due to its historical roots.[31]
The first official match took place on November 13, 1927, ending in a 2–0 victory for Chacarita Juniors. Atlanta achieved its first victory in 1930, winning 1–0 away.[32] It is one of the most traditional derbies in Argentine football, having been played 100 times in the Argentine Primera División.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all matches played in official tournaments recognized by the AFA. It includes matches from the 1934 season (when Atlanta merged with Argentinos Juniors) and a match in 1940 awarded to Atlanta due to Chacarita's disaffiliation.[33]
Updated to the last match played on August 19, 2023.
The rivalry originated in the early 20th century. While Platense was historically based in the Núñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires, its stadium was located just across the city limit, close to its current home in Florida (inaugurated in 1979). Tigre is based in Victoria, near the city of Tigre.
The animosity began on April 23, 1916, during a match at Tigre's old stadium in Rincón de Milberg. Violent incidents occurred when Platense supporters were attacked by Tigre fans while attempting to cross the bridge over the Reconquista River. Since then, a mutual enmity has existed.[35]
In modern times, the clubs fought intense battles for promotion. In 2004, Tigre won the Primera B Metropolitana championship at Platense's stadium.[36] In 2007, they met in the final of the "Torneo Reducido" for a spot in the promotion playoffs to the Primera División, which Tigre won.[37] After 42 years without meeting in the top flight, the derby returned to the First Division in 2022.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA.
Updated to the last match played on November 3, 2024.[38]
The All Boys–Nueva Chicago derby (Clásico All Boys-Nueva Chicago) is the football match between All Boys and Nueva Chicago, two clubs located in the west of the city of Buenos Aires. It is traditionally referred to by the media and fans as the Superclásico del Ascenso ("Superderby of the Promotion Leagues") because they are the two institutions with the most seasons in the Second Division and have played over 100 matches exclusively in the lower divisions.[39][40][41][42][43]
The rivalry began on June 15, 1919, making it the oldest sporting rivalry in the Argentine promotion leagues and the third oldest in the city of Buenos Aires, behind Boca Juniors vs. River Plate (1913) and Huracán vs. San Lorenzo (1915).[44]
The animosity is fueled by geographical proximity; the clubs' headquarters are separated by approximately seven kilometers, with the Mataderos (Nueva Chicago) and Floresta (All Boys) neighborhoods divided by Parque Avellaneda.[45] Historically, the areas were connected by the number 40 tram line.[46] Social differences also contributed to the rivalry: Floresta was historically associated with weekend villas and English descendants who practiced football in schools, while Mataderos was a working-class area centered around slaughterhouses where the sport was popularized by British sailors in vacant lots.[47]
The "Superclásico del Ascenso" term was originally a marketing initiative by both clubs printed on match jerseys, but it was later adopted by major national media outlets like Telefe,[48]TyC Sports,[49]Clarín,[50]Página/12,[51]La Voz del Interior,[52] and La Gaceta,[53] to describe the fixture. Recently, the Chilean newspaper El Deportivo ranked it among the top 30 derbies in the Americas.[54]
Head-to-head record
This table includes all official matches recognized by the AFA.
The Cuyo derby (Clásico de Cuyo) is the most important football match in the Cuyo region of western Argentina. It is an interprovincial rivalry contested between Godoy Cruz from the Mendoza Province and San Martín from the San Juan Province.
Unlike most Argentine derbies, which are intra-city rivalries, this matchup represents the sporting dominance of the region. Historically, both clubs had local rivals in their respective cities (Andes Talleres for Godoy Cruz and Juventud Alianza for San Martín), but as both teams ascended to the national divisions, their direct confrontation became the main derby for both institutions.
The first official match took place on January 7, 1990, during the Torneo del Interior, ending in a 2–2 draw. The first meeting in the Argentine Primera División occurred on October 26, 2011, also finishing in a 2–2 draw.
Head-to-head record
This table includes all matches played in official tournaments and friendly competitions, as recognized by the clubs' historical records.
Updated to the last match played on November 2, 2025.
↑Does not include the match on June 22, 1919 (1–1), which was subsequently annulled.
↑In 1915, Independiente won 2–1, but the match was awarded to Racing due to the ineligible fielding of a player. The goals scored in that match are not counted in the historical record.
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