This is a list of the major football derbies in Italy.
Some derbies have developed on the basis of intra-city rivalries (locally called stracittadine), others on a regional basis, and others are formed due to sporting or political rivalry and have little to do with geographical proximity.
City derbies and their history Early Italian football was characterised by numerous matches between teams of the same cities, as teams would have needed to compete in regional preliminary phases in order to compete at the national level.
During the 1920s, the fascist leaders noted the great propaganda potential in what had become the first national sport. Most Italian cities were restricted to only a single club that could play professionally, although this rule was relaxed in three major cities of Northern Italy: Genoa, Milan and Turin, places where Italian football was born, which meant that the individual clubs' cultures were by that point too ingrained to be restricted. Further, due to the strong resistance of Lazio to join Roma, the same treatment was accorded to Rome, the capital.
The first derby in the Italian top flight was played in Turin on 8 May 1898 between the F.B.C. Torinese and Internazionale F.C. Torino, teams that would merge to create Torino Football Club.
When the Serie A began in 1929, three derbies were played in the top flight, which became four in 1935–36. Eighty years later, a fifth derby took place for the first time in 2001–02 when former amateur side Chievo contested the Verona Derby with the more traditional Hellas Verona.
The following city derbies are those that have been played at least once in Serie A.
Derby della Lanterna (Derby of the Lighthouse): Italy's oldest derby sees Genoa clash with Sampdoria. Sampdoria was formed in 1946, but other clubs from the city (which became the modern day Sampdoria) have contested the derby against Genoa since 1902. These teams are Andrea Doria, Sampierdarenese, Liguria Football Club and La Dominante. Derby della Madonnina (Derby of the Madonna): Inter against Milan was the only intra-city derby in which both sides have won the European Cup, up until Manchester City's win in 2023 Derby della Capitale (Derby of the Capital): Lazio play Roma in a derby that was first contested in 1929 in which Roma were victorious. Derby della Mole (Derby of the Mole Antonelliana): Juventus and Torino contest the derby of Turin, which stretches back to 1907 and is Italy's longest running derby featuring the same sides. Derby della Scala (Derby of the Scaligers): Italy's newest city derby is between Chievo and Verona and was held for the first time in the Serie B in 1994. Neapolitan derby: S.S.C. Napoli vs A.S.D. Atletico Calvizzano vs Stella Napoli vs FC Napoli Nord Florentine derby: ACF Fiorentina vs S.S.D. Rondinella Marzocco Palermitano derby: Palermo FC vs S.S.D. Athletic Club Palermo
Major inter-city The following derbies have also been played in Serie A.
Derby d'Italia (Derby of Italy): Internazionale–Juventus: a term coined by journalist Gianni Brera to identify the match between the two most successful sides in Italian football. Derby del Sole (Derby of the Sun): Napoli–Roma: these became the first two clubs in Central Italy and Southern Italy to be admitted to the National Division in 1926–27. Derby dell'Appennino (Apennines Derby): Bologna–Fiorentina: Bologna is the largest city and the administrative seat of Emilia-Romagna, while Florence is the largest city and the administrative seat of Tuscany. The two cities are separated by the Apennines. This match was played for first time in the 1926–27 "Prima divisione" championship, Fiorentina's inaugural season in the top flight. The fierce rivalry between the supporters of the two sides dates from the Seventies, the first years of the "Ultras" subculture. Most violent clashes happened in 1988–89 Serie A season, when Fiorentina's supporters threw molotov cocktails at the train carrying hundreds of Bologna's visiting supporters to Florence. A 14-year-old boy was heavily injured, and the angry Bologna supporters paraded to the stadium causing brawls and damages. Derby delle Due Sicilie (Two Sicilies Derby): Palermo–Napoli Derby delle Isole (Islands Derby): Palermo–Cagliari Derby di Sicilia (Sicilian derby): Palermo–Catania Derby dello Stretto (Derby of the Strait): Messina–Reggina Derby dell'Emilia (Emilia Derby): Bologna–Parma: these are the two largest clubs in Emilia, although first appearance in Serie A was in 1990, Parma's first year in the top flight. Derby dell'Enza (Enza Derby) or Derby del Grana (Parmesan Cheese Derby): Parma–Reggiana: the river of the same name divides the provincial boundaries of Parma with those of Reggio Emilia. It was played for the first time in Serie A in 1993. ACF Fiorentina–Juventus F.C. rivalry: Fiorentina–Juventus Juventus F.C.–A.C. Milan rivalry: Juventus–Milan Juventus F.C.–S.S.C. Napoli rivalry: Juventus–Napoli Juventus F.C.–A.S. Roma rivalry: Juventus–Roma
Minor provincial derbies In Italy, there are 107 provinces. The following derbies are intra-provincial derbies.
Alessandria Province Alessandria Derby: Alessandria–Casale, playing major until the 1930s in CONI Cup 1927, was held in the final at the Stadio Olimpico. Previous derbies in Serie A and Serie B.
Ascoli Piceno Derby del Tronto or the Piceno: Ascoli–Sambenedettese, the major derby for both sets of fans, a heated football match. Always citizens of San Benedetto del Tronto assert their autonomy from the capital Piceno. This turned derby was played in Serie B seasons 1976–77, 1977–78 and 1985–86.
Bari Derby of Bari (I): Bari–Fidelis Andria derby played in Serie B when Andria was still part of the Province of Bari. Derby of Bari (II): Bari–Barletta derby played in Serie B and Serie C when Barletta was still part of the Province of Bari
Como Derby del Lario: Como–Lecco, was played several times Serie B when Lecco was still part of the Province of Como. It's a duel between the two branches of Lake Como and Volta to that of Manzoni.
Florence Derby Arno: Fiorentina–Empoli, now considered a derby stracittadino. The real derby Florence would be Fiorentina–Rondinella. Empoli–Prato Derby Empoli–Prato, held in 1949–50 Serie B when Prato was part of the province of Florence.
Forlì Derby of the Riviera: Cesena–Rimini, held in Serie B seasons 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1980–81 when Rimini was still part of the province of Forlì.
Lecce Salento Derby: Lecce–Gallipoli, is dispute for the first time in the league of Serie B 2009–10.
Lucca Derby of the Lucca: Lucchese–Viareggio extremely dangerous having some of the historical precedents, especially in twenties and thirties. "In May 1920 a bad refereeing the football match between the team and the town of Lucca lights the fuse to a popular upheaval that autoelegge Viareggio Republic isolating it completely for three days". There are precedents in the seasons Serie A 1934–35 and Serie B 1935–36, and in the second level of the Italian soccer league in the twenties.
Modena Modena–Sassuolo Derby Modena–Sassuolo, not a long-lasting rivalry, but it started to have some relevance to recent precedents as Sassuolo has established themselves at a higher level. It was in fact played in Serie B 2008–09 and 2012–13. Modena–Carpi Derby Modena–Carpi, Another minor local rivalry, featured in Serie B 2013–14 and 2014–15 seasons. Sassuolo–Carpi Derby Sassuolo–Carpi, Another minor local rivalry, featured in Serie A 2015–16 season.
Naples Derby del Golfo (Derby of the Gulf): Napoli–Juve Stabia is the biggest derby in Naples metropolitan area. They last played each other in official game in 2005–06 Serie C1 season.
Napoli–Savoia Derby, Napoli–Savoia was played for the first time 24 December 1939, during the knockout phase of the Italian Cup from 1939 to 1940, the score was 1–3 Savoy Naples.Calvelli, Lucibelli, Schettino, p. 144 In the only previous league games dating back to the championship 1999–2000 Serie B, when the Naples returned to Serie A and the Savoy relegated to Serie C1. The results were Savoia-Napoli 0–1
Padua Saints Derby or Padua Derby: Padua–Cittadella, is played for the first time in championship Serie B in 2009–10 after several derbies in Serie C1, and also in 2000 in 2002 when Cittadella played in Padua its first two seasons in Serie B. At the dawn of Italian football is also played in the derby Padua and Petrarca.
Salerno Nocerina–Salernitana Derby, played in the Southern League 1928–29 (forerunner of today's Serie B) Salernitana–Scafatese Derby, played in Serie B 1946–1947 Nocerina–Scafatese Derby, played in Serie B 1947–48
Varese Derby Varese: Varese–Pro Patria, derby between the team and the capital of the Busto Arsizio, a city that for years has ambitions to become the capital of the province.
Vicenza Derby di Vicenza or Derby della Lana (Wool Derby): Lanerossi Vicenza–A.C. Marzotto. It was played mostly between the two world wars in the third series, but also in Serie B in the early 1950s. The rivalry between Vicenza and Valdagno, despite not officially meeting for decades, is still on, so that in a few bars of Valdagno is still served a cocktail called "Cinqueazero" ("Fivetozero") in memory of a victory of Marzotto in the 1940s.
Minor regional derbies In Italy, there are 20 regions. The following derbies are intra-regional derbies.
Abruzzo The only derby in Abruzzo that have been played in Serie B is the one between Pescara and Virtus Lanciano in 2013–2014, 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 and the other one between Pescara and Castel di Sangro in 1996–97 and 1997–98 (Serie B).
Apulia In general, the challenges between the three most famous teams of the region (Bari, Lecce and Foggia) played in Serie A. Featured: Apulian Derby: Bari–Lecce, the match between the two most important teams of Apulia, in the second half of the 1990s. Derby of the Murgia: Taranto–Bari, the main centers of region. Due to the different fortunes of the two teams, the derby is no longer played at the official level by 1993. Derby of Apulia: Foggia–Bari has been played in the top division in 1991–92, 1993–94 and 1994–95.
Calabria Derby della Calabria: any game between the teams of Catanzaro, Cosenza, Reggina and Crotone. The derby between Catanzaro and Cosenza, considered the quintessential derby, the first Calabrian derby was played in Serie B in 1946. After that, historically another derby on and heard from both sets of fans since the early 60 'has always been Cosenza-Reggina, also played in Serie B, but since the 1988–89 season. Derby of the former province of Catanzaro: Catanzaro-Crotone is the former derby in the province of Catanzaro in Croton there was a part before the '90s. This game was played in Serie B only in seasons 2004–05 and 2005–06. Derby of Ancient Greece: Reggina-Crotone played in Serie B since 2001, ended in a tie except for 2010 where the victory of amaranth slowed the run of the Pythagoreans to the play-offs and another win there amaranth is in the Italian Cup in 2013 1–0. Then Scida historic victory at 2–0 Crotone at home against Reggina after 37 years from the previous victory in October 2013.
In addition to those listed the only other derby Calabrian played at least in Serie B is between Cosenza and Crotone in Serie B 2000–01, 2001–02,2018–19 and 2019–20
Campania Historically, the biggest football event of the region is the Derby della Campania, that is the challenge that confronts two teams from Avellino, Napoli and Salerno. Napoli–Salernitana Avellino–Napoli Avellino–Salernitana
Other derby Campania, at least those played in Serie B also involve Juve Stabia, Nocerina and Savoia, and are the following: Avellino–Juve Stabia Juve Stabia–Nocerina Juve Stabia–Salernitana Salernitana–Savoia
Emilia-Romagna