Derby clashes are always intense, and when two close rivals meet in a major final, winning becomes especially significant. Losing is unimaginable.
Such encounters are not frequent, but they have occurred over the years in some of the world’s most prestigious cup competitions, from the Champions League to the Copa Libertadores and the FA Cup. Here’s a closer look at some notable derby clashes in major finals:
## Barcelona vs Espanyol (Supercopa de España)
The 2006 Supercopa de España pitted La Liga champions Barcelona against that season’s Copa del Rey winners, Espanyol. The two Catalan rivals met over two legs in August, with Barça comfortably winning 1-0 at Montjuïc and 3-0 at Camp Nou.
## Birmingham City vs Aston Villa (League Cup)
Aston Villa were the inaugural winners of the League Cup, taking the title in 1961. Two years later, they made the final again, but lost out to local rivals Birmingham City after a 3-1 defeat at St. Andrews and a 0-0 draw at Villa Park.
## Hearts vs Hibs (Scottish Cup)
The 2012 Scottish Cup final was an all-Edinburgh affair, with Hearts earning the bragging rights that day with an incredible 5-1 win over city rivals Hibernian at Hampden Park. This meeting in Glasgow came over 100 years after the two Edinburgh sides first faced off in a Scottish Cup final, with Hearts also 3-1 winners over Hibs in the 1896 showpiece.
## Tottenham vs Chelsea (FA Cup, League Cup)
Tottenham and Chelsea met in the FA Cup final in 1967, with Spurs coming out on top in a 2-1 win over the Blues at Wembley. The London rivals have also faced off in two League Cup finals, with Tottenham victorious in 2008 and Chelsea the winners in 2015.
## Juventus vs Torino (Coppa Italia)
After winning the second edition of the Coppa Italia in 1936, Torino came up against city rivals Juventus in the final two years later. The final was played over two matches in Turin, with Juventus winning 3-1 at Torino’s Stadio Filadelfia and 2-1 at their Stadio Olimpico home (then known as Stadio Benito Mussolini) for a 5-2 aggregate victory.
## Olympiacos vs Panathinaikos (Greek Cup)
Olympiacos vs Panathinaikos is a huge rivalry in Greece, with the match-up nicknamed “the derby of the eternal enemies.” Until 2024, there had been 10 finals between the two teams in the Greek Cup, with five wins each.
## Arsenal vs Chelsea (FA Cup, Europa League)
Arsenal and Chelsea have met in three FA Cup finals, with the Gunners coming out on top each time – in 2002, 2017, and 2020. However, the Blues beat Arsenal 4-1 in the 2019 Europa League final.
## AC Milan vs Inter (Coppa Italia)
AC Milan met city rivals Inter in the final of the Coppa Italia in 1997, with Milan sealing a 2-1 victory at their shared San Siro home.
## Liverpool vs Everton (FA Cup)
Liverpool and Everton were England’s two strongest sides in the mid-1980s, and in 1986, the Merseyside rivals met in the FA Cup final. Liverpool came out on top with a 3-1 win over the Toffees at Wembley.
## Roma vs Lazio (Coppa Italia)
The Coppa Italia final has been played in a one-off match since 2008, and that fixture traditionally takes place at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. In the 2012/13 edition, the final was contested by Roma and Lazio, with Lazio emerging victorious 1-0.
## Benfica vs Sporting CP (Taça de Portugal, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira)
Along with FC Porto, Benfica and Sporting CP make up Portugal’s big three, and the two Lisbon sides share a fierce rivalry. Benfica and Sporting have met in eight Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal) finals, with the Eagles coming out on top in six of those. In the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (Portuguese Super Cup), the two are tied at three wins each from their six meetings.
## Celtic vs Rangers (Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup)
Celtic and Rangers have dominated Scottish football, and the two Glasgow giants have met well over 400 times in fierce Old Firm clashes. By the end of 2024, they had faced off in 15 Scottish Cup finals and 17 Scottish League Cup finals, with multiple wins each.
## Manchester United vs Manchester City (FA Cup)
For the first time in over 150 years of the FA Cup, there was a Manchester derby in the final in 2023, with City winning 2-1. The following year, the two teams met in the final again, and this time United were victorious by the same scoreline.
## Boca Juniors vs River Plate (Copa Libertadores)
Boca Juniors vs River Plate is one of the world’s biggest, most intense, and passionate derbies. In 2018, the two Buenos Aires giants met in the final of the Copa Libertadores, with River coming out on top 3-1 in extra time after a 1-1 draw in the second leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.
## Galatasaray vs Fenerbahçe (Turkish Cup, Turkish Super Cup)
Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe are Turkey’s two biggest and most successful clubs, so it is little surprise that the two Istanbul giants have met fairly often in finals over the years, with Galatasaray claiming several victories.
## Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid (Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Rey, Supercopa de España)
Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid have faced off in numerous high-profile finals, including the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals, the 2018 UEFA Super Cup, and several Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España showdowns.
These derby clashes in major finals showcase the passion, intensity, and importance of these rivalries, with victory often being extra special and defeat simply unthinkable for the fans.
