Germany’s biggest football rivalries

Much like many other major leagues around the world, the German Bundesliga boasts plenty of extremely heated football rivalries.

Without further ado, let’s look at some of the biggest rivalries in Germany, starting with one which is a little different to other football rivalries.

Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich

While many rivalries in football have their roots in geographical proximity or political differences, this is not the case between Dortmund and Bayern.

Der Klassiker is purely about footballing dominance, with the two clubs regularly battling with each other to win the Bundesliga title each season.

Bayern’s run of 11 successive league championships has left Dortmund fans cursing, particularly those who have wagered on them to claim top spot.

As a result of this, gambling in German online casinos has become hugely popular with supporters eager to give their bankroll a boost before betting on Dortmund again.

Bettors in Dortmund will have the chance to recoup some of their outlay when the two sides face each other in the league at Signal Iduna Park on November 4.

However, Bayern have not been beaten by Dortmund in the Bundesliga since 2018/19 and will fancy their chances of enhancing that record in their next meeting.

Cologne vs Borussia Monchengladbach

With just 28 miles separating these two famous clubs, the rivalry between Cologne and Borussia Monchengladbach is one of the fiercest in professional football.

The flames of the bitterness were fanned during the 1960s and 1970s, when Hennes Weisweiler brought success to both clubs during stints as their manager.

The 1977/78 title race was particularly noteworthy in the history of this German football rivalry, as Cologne pipped their bitter rivals to top spot on the final day of the season.

There have also been numerous instances of trouble between the two sets of supporters, both inside and outside the respective stadiums.

One of the worst examples was in 2015, when Cologne were fined €200,000 and hit with three partial stadium closures after thugs clashed with police following a defeat at Monchengladbach.

Members of Cologne’s Boyz Ultras group were subsequently banned from attending matches, although that move has not quelled the trouble away from the stadiums.

Schalke vs Borussia Dortmund

In terms of the reputation of football rivalries worldwide, the clash between Schalke and Dortmund is towards the top of the tree.

Less than 20 miles separates the two clubs, and the working-class ethos associated with their respective cities adds a further layer of competitiveness to the rivalry.

One of the most notable controversies in the Revierderby occurred in 1969, when a police dog bit Schalke player Friedel Rausch during a massive pitch invasion.

It was later discovered that the dog belonged to a Dortmund fan who was impersonating the police, sparking a ruling that no dogs would be allowed inside stadiums without a muzzle.

There were also serious clashes between the two sets of fans in 2012 and 2013, leading to the authorities issuing hundreds of banning orders.

Dortmund fans took great delight in ribbing their rivals last season, as Schalke ended the campaign inside the Bundesliga relegation zone.

Germany’s biggest football rivalries