BBC Sport Academy | Football | Features | Boca Juniors v River Plate

Argentina's capital Buenos Aires is home to this incredible derby.

It's a time when the 'people's team' and 'the millionaires' come together with defeat unthinkable for the passionate fans!

Who are they?
Boca and River are Argentina's biggest football clubs and they have dominated the national championship for the last 70 years.

More than half of the country's football fans support one of these clubs.

They have produced some of the world's greatest players, from Diego Maradona and Alfredo di Stefano to Gabriel 'Batigol' Batistuta and Marcelo Salas.

Oh, and Juan Pablo Angel of Villa is a River Plate old boy as well.

Both clubs formed in a Buenos Aires area called the La Boca, but in 1938 River Plate earned their 'millionaires' nickname after moving to the affluent Nunez neighbourhood.

Fireman spray Boca fans with water during a match against River Plate!
Just cool down!

Boca remained and became known as the people's team, with the majority of fans coming from the local Italian immigrant community.

So what about the rivalry?
The game is called the 'Superclasico'.

The red and white of River versus the blue and yellow of Boca and the two sets of fans really don't like each other!

Boca fans refer to River supporters as 'gallinas' (chickens) because they think River are afraid of everything!

And then the River fans hit back by calling their rivals 'los puercos' (pigs) because their stadium is located in a poor Boca area and is said to smell most of the time!

The rivalry is more about class and money, with River Plate's support traditionally coming from the high-fliers in the Buenos Aires society.

And the Boca supporters tend to come from the working classes and migrant communities.

River fans display their passion during a game.
Watch where you put that firework!

Does it ever get out of hand?
Sometimes the passion can erupt into violence.

There is a group of River supporters called 'Los Borrachos del Tablon' (the Terrace Drunks) that take things very seriously sometimes.

Some of these fans are known to use the club's gymnasium as members and have even paid 'visits' to the team dormitories within the stadium! Scary stuff!

The match is always an unforgettable experience, with a sea of colourful flowing banners, screams and roars, chanting, dancing and never-ending fireworks.

Click here for more famous derbies


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