As football fans know all too well, getting bested by your closest rivals on the pitch can prove as frustrating as it gets in the sport.
Whether a rivalry is based on geographical location, a previous flash point between the two clubs or by the sheer amount of times two particular teams have faced off against one another, deep-rooted derby dislike is one of the true cornerstones of world football. And it’s even worse if your team keeps getting beaten.
With winless Everton looking set for another bruising Premier League day out this weekend as they face fierce foes Liverpool, we ask: what are some of European football’s most one-sided rivalries?
Everton vs. Liverpool: Are the Toffees really that bad?
A competitive rivalry dating all the way back to 1894, Everton have now for a long period lived in Liverpool’s shadow when it comes to head-to-head results between the pair.
With just 67 victories across 238 competitive all-time clashes, Everton hold a measly 28.15 per cent win rate against their cross-city rivals throughout the fixture’s illustrious history.
That poor form has been particularly present over the past 10 years or so, much to the frustration of Everton fans everywhere, as their side have now won just one of the 26 matches played between the two sides since the start of the 2011/12 season.
The one victory in that sequence came just a few seasons back thanks a 2-0 scoreline at Anfield, which will have proved especially sweet for Toffees fans. That result also finally ended their wait for an away win against Liverpool since a 1-0 success all the way back in September 1999!
Schalke vs. Borussia Dortmund: Revierderby difficulty
Schalke and Borussia Dortmund hold a historic rivalry that dates all the way back to 1925. It will be reignited this campaign after Schalke won promotion back from Germany’s second tier at the end of last season.
Whilst the overall record remains relatively even since that first matchup, Dortmund have proved far too strong for Schalke to handle in recent Bundesliga meetings.
Across their 13 matches since the start of 2015, Schalke have won this illustrious derby just twice and, in the past three meetings, they have been blown away by BVB, losing 3-0 on two occasions and 4-0 in the other.
0 – For the first time in Bundesliga history, @BlackYellow have kept a clean sheet in both of their meetings with Schalke in a single season (0-0 away and 4-0 at home). Wall. #BVBS04 pic.twitter.com/ZBrKXrdiDV
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) May 16, 2020
Benfica vs. Porto: O Classico brings agony for Aguias fans
Portugal’s Classico sees fierce rivals Benfica and Porto face off, though since the 2015/16 campaign, it’s the boys in blue and white that have largely dominated this fiery affair.
Since Benfica’s 2-0 away win on matchday 13 of the Liga NOS season back in December 2014, the side from the Portuguese capital have won just two of their past 19 head-to-head fixtures across all competitions with the Dragons, twice agonisingly losing in cup finals along the way.
Such is Porto’s hold over their fierce rivals that, since the first fixture in that streak, they’ve won by a 28-13 scoreline on aggregate and have only allowed Benfica to score twice in a match on two occasions.
Marseille vs. PSG: Le Classique spells doom for OM
Paris Saint-Germain have proved near impossible for Marseille to break down across their clashes this decade.
Since the second half of the 2011/12 Ligue 1 season, OM have won just one of their 25 outings against the capital club, losing 20 times in the process for good measure.
In that time, PSG have twice won domestic cup titles at the expense of their fierce rivals from the south coast and have racked up an aggregate scoreline of 55-17 to really rub salt in the wounds.
PSG star Kylian Mbappe has proved particularly potent against Marseille during that time, netting seven goals across his 10 Classique matches.
Les 6️⃣ buts de @KMbappe lors de #Classique
⚡⚽ 𝑲𝒚𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝑴𝒃𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆́ 🆚 Marseille pic.twitter.com/ezRzDFhzY8
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) April 17, 2022
Getafe vs. Atletico Madrid: Capital punishment
Perhaps Europe’s most one-sided city rivalry can be found in La Liga, with Spanish capital club Getafe remarkably holding just a 10.25 per cent win rate against Atletico Madrid across 39 competitive meetings.
In fact, Getafe fans have witnessed just four victories against Atletico since the sides first clashed during the 2000/01 season, and they remain winless across 22 meetings following a 3-2 victory during the 2011/12 season.
In particular, spare a thought for their supporters heading north-east across the city to the Wanda Metropolitano: Getafe have lost each of their past 12 competitive away matches versus Atletico. At least some joy was to be found in their 4-3 La Liga loss this season, as that result finally ended a run of 11 straight away matches against Atleti in which Getafe did not even manage to score.
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