Paris FC vs PSG and 4 More Local Derbies With Stadiums Just Metres Apart
Rivalries play a major role in football, adding an extra layer of intensity and excitement to every match. Over the years, we've seen famous football rivalries like the El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona and intense city clashes like the Milan and the North London Derbies.
Beyond these high-profile showdowns, there are also deeply rooted local rivalries between teams that are practically neighbors. These local derbies are unique because the tension doesn't just fade after the final whistle. The fans often live in the same districts, go to the same cafés, and ride the same buses. So, when two local teams square off, it's not just a match, it's a battle for hometown dominance. That's what makes a fixture like Paris FC vs PSG so exciting.
In this article, we'll examine the Paris FC vs. PSG rivalry and four other football derbies where the clubs' home grounds are just steps away. But before we dive right in, check out the Aviator India game and other exciting casino titles.
PSG Vs. Paris FC
In the case of Paris FC and PSG, fans have been starved of a proper league encounter between the two sides for decades. Paris FC have been absent from the top flight for 46 long years. Their last official top-tier encounter with PSG took place during the 1978/79 Division 1 season. Both games ended in stalemates, a 2–2 draw in the first leg and a 1–1 draw in the second. Since then, the teams haven't met in any official men's competitions. However, they did face off in a friendly on December 16, 2022, where PSG came away with a narrow 2–1 victory.
Now, with Paris FC's promotion ahead of next season, the spicy Parisian derby is finally set to return, and fans can't wait. Paris FC will play its home games at the Stade Jean-Bouin, which is located just across Rue Claude Farrere from PSG's legendary Parc des Princes. At roughly 20 meters apart, the two stadiums are the closest in professional football, and that proximity will no doubt amplify the atmosphere when derby day arrives.
However, the rivalry goes deeper than geography. Paris FC and PSG actually share a common origin, having started as a merged entity in 1970. Two years later, in 1972, the clubs split, and PSG went on to dominate the domestic league, while Paris FC spent decades trying to climb out of the lower divisions.
Another interesting fact is that Paris FC is also set to enjoy the kind of financial backing that PSG has enjoyed so far. They are backed by new ownership from the billionaire Arnault family, so the club is entering Ligue 1 with ambitious plans. Fans can hope that in no time, they will build a sustainable, competitive team that can go toe-to-toe with their star-studded neighbor.
Liverpool vs Everton
With just 983 metres apart, Liverpool vs Everton is one of the most iconic derbies in English football. The Merseyside Derby, as it is usually called, is also the longest-running top-flight derby in England, and it's been played continuously since the 1962/63 season.
Historically, the Merseyside Derby was known as the "friendly derby" because of the city's unique footballing culture. In fact, many families had fans of both clubs, and even at big games, supporters sat together and chanted "Merseyside" in unison. However, since the mid-1980s, things have gotten far more heated between these two sides. The rivalry has produced more red cards than any other fixture in the Premier League era.
Although Liverpool has been the dominant side in recent years, the games still remain intense and fiercely competitive.
Dundee FC vs Dundee United
Sitting just 100 metres apart on Tannadice Street, Dundee FC's Dens Park and Dundee United's Tannadice Park are the closest stadiums in the UK. These two clubs have been locking horns for decades, and their matches are still a passionate affair today. Out of 178 meetings, United has claimed 82 wins, while Dundee has come out on top 51 times. United is also ahead in victories across all major domestic competitions, the league, the Scottish Cup, and the League Cup.
However, this fixture is always intense despite this gap in silverware and head-to-head records. Beyond football, it's about local identity, pride, and bragging rights.
Partizan Vs. Crvena Zvezda
Known as the Eternal Derby, the rivalry between Partizan Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) is one of the fiercest and most emotionally charged in European football. The teams are based in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, and are separated by 510 metres.
Since their formation in 1945, both clubs have dominated Serbian football, making their rivalry quite intense. It is a clash for supremacy between two equally strong sides and has been called one of European football's most bitter rivalries. Interestingly, the Partizan-Zvezda rivalry goes beyond football and spills over into other sports, like basketball.
Nottingham Forest vs Notts County
The Nottingham Derby, as it is popularly called, might not be the fiercest rivalry in English football today, but it's one of the oldest. Geographically, it is also one of the closest, with just 225 metres separating Nottingham Forest's City Ground from Notts County's Meadow Lane.
Notts County, founded in 1862, holds the title of the world's oldest professional association football club. On the other hand, Forest was founded in 1865, just three years later. The first meeting between the two clubs took place in 1866, a friendly that ended 0–0. Since then, they've met 94 times across various competitions.
However, the rivalry has faded somewhat in recent decades due to the clubs playing in different tiers of the English league system. Their last league meeting was in 1994, when Notts County defeated Forest 2–1.
Conclusion
The close proximity between the rival teams and their shared history make local derbies extra intense. Next season, French football is set to witness the revival of another local rivalry, the Paris-PSG derby, a fixture that has been virtually absent for decades. With Paris FC now backed by strong financial support, fans can look forward to a fiercely competitive and high-quality encounter between the two sides.
