France’s fiercest football rivalries

Le Classique (Olympique de Marseille vs Paris Saint-Germain)

Today, Le Classique is considered the biggest rivalry in France and violent clashes are not unheard of. Marseille and PSG are France’s most successful football clubs and the only two French sides to win a major European trophy. They are also the two most popular football clubs in France. But there are also major differences between both sides. PSG is located in the city of political power and is seen as a club for the elite, although it was born as a fan-owned team. L’OM is located in a city of the working class and is seen as a people’s club, although they were ironically created by a group of elite aristocrats. 

For many French people, the rivalry really started in 1992 after a brutal match that became known as the ‘’Butchery of 1992’’. 

Derby Rhone-Alpes (Olympique Lyon vs AS Saint-Étienne)

The derby between Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Étienne, who are only separated by 50 kilometres, is one of the most highly-anticipated matches in France. Saint-Étienne was the country’s most successful football club during the 20th century, but has not won a Ligue 1 title since 1981 and even suffered multiple relegations. Lyon, on the other hand, won their first league title in 2002 and dominated French football at the beginning of this century by winning the league seven times in a row. It’s also seen as a clash between an industrial and working-class club (AS Saint-Étienne) and a club for the upper class (Olympique de Lyon). 

Derby Corse (AC Ajaccio vs SC Bastia)

The rivalry between AC Ajaccio and SC Bastia splits the island of Corsica in two. On the island, people live and breathe football and the derby between the two is one about regional supremacy. Outside of football, there has always been hostility between the two cities. Bastia is seen as more natural and authentic, whereas Ajaccio is more metropolitan. The hatred between both fanbases is so intense that it’s prohibited for both clubs to bring away supporters to the derby as many violent incidents have occurred in the past. 

Derby du Nord (LOSC Lille vs RC Lens)

Similar to the Derby Rhone-Alpes, the Derby du Nord is also a rivalry between two clubs that are near each other and have sociological differences that separate them. The city of Lens is known as an old mining city where the working class resides. Lille is traditionally a more modern middle-class city. Both clubs, who have very passionate and dedicated fanbases, have also competed near the top of the league in the last few years. 

A traditional and forgotten derby (FC Nantes vs AS Saint-Étienne)

Although the match between FC Nantes and AS Saint-Étienne is not really considered a derby anymore, it is one of the most iconic clashes in French football and gains a lot of interest from both fanbases. Traditionally, Les Verts and Les Canaris were the most successful football clubs in the country, but both had very different styles. Saint-Étienne represented their working-class mining city and played tough and intense football. FC Nantes created their own distinctive style that was called ‘’jeu a la nantaise’’, which was based on technical skills, tactical cohesion and ball possession. So it was not just a clash between two clubs with high ambitions, but also one between two opposite tactics. Since both teams have not competed for the title in many years, the derby has somewhat faded. 

Other derbies

These are not the only rivalries that divide French football. Stade Rennes and FC Nantes also have a fierce local rivalry (Derby Breton) and so do AS Monaco and OGC Nice (Derby de la Cote d’Azur). Lyon and Marseille have also developed a rivalry between them (Chocs de Olympique) as both clubs regularly competed for the title and top spots in the league. 

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