Derbies top the menu
Derbies top the menu
Posted: 2009-10-29 21:28
Orlando Stadium is the place to be for South African football fans on this weekend for another sold out Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.
However, fans around the world will also be treated to a weekend of derbies in Israel, Netherlands and Chile.
Chiefs enter the Derby on the back of a mid-week victory over Golden Arrows after having suffered three successive home losses. The win has lifted them to 7th spot on the League table, two below Pirates.
While they may have enjoyed a better start to the season, Pirates recent defeats against AmaZulu, SuperSport United and Santos makes them surprise outsiders.
This weekend also sees the ‘De Klassieker’ the Dutch Derby between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord of Rotterdam.
Ajax haven’t lost the League derby since February 2006 making them favourites to win.
There have been many clashes between the supporters of both clubs, of which Beverwijk in 1997 was infamous.
One Ajax fan was beaten to death by rival supporters, triggering more strict policies from the Dutch football association KNVB to tackle hooliganism. As a result of the incident, the two Klassiekers in 1997/98 were played without away fans.
Nevertheless, in April 2005, riots took place around Feyenoord's ground involving hooligans from both sides and the riot police. Travelling Ajax fans had demolished the train transporting them to Rotterdam, and were forced to wait outside the stadium until the match was over.
In February 2009, the mayors of Amsterdam and Rotterdam made an agreement with the KNVB to ban visiting fans from the away games in an effort to curb the violence.
The Big Tel Aviv Derby this weekend, contested between inter-city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv and Maccabi Tel Aviv is sure to spice up their Round 10 menu.
Hapoel could leapfrog their rivals, into the top three, if they can beat them at home.
In contrast, second-placed Maccabi have enjoyed a solid start to the 2009 season and will be eager to gain further ground on last year's runners-up.
The fourth derby on the cards this weekend takes place in Chile with Universidad up against Catolica.
The Clasico Universitario is Chile’s oldest football derby. Current League leaders Universidad Catolica have recorded only one loss in 15 games, a record their rivals will be itching to dent.
Universidad de Chile has proven powerful at home, with only one loss in seven matches.
In China this weekend, the derby focus is on the Shenzhen versus Henan Jianye match.
It is the final day of play in the Chinese Super League and will decide the 2009 champion. A goal difference of five currently separates the top two teams on the log.
Henan Jianye, who are second on the log on goal difference, travel to Shenzhen, who are perched precariously outside the relegation zone.
Henan Jianye need to put five goals past the Shenzhen goalkeeper to lift the title.
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