Biggest game in club football...

[Rozay]

Not talking about stuff like the CL final, I’m talking about regular fixtures between two teams.

I think undoubtedly, El Clasicó has been the standout fixture of the last decade. Now, however, I think it’s lost its allure, and is levels below what it once was.

Do people still think this is the standout fixture? Or is Liverpool v United now the one, or the Manchester derby perhaps? I think Inter v Juve is one to watch, as it’s by far the only two really top teams in Italy now.

I don’t know what the viewing figures suggest. I’m sure Clasico was pulling in near a billion in it’s prime.

 

[VorZakone]

I've lost interest in El Clasico, it has lost its spark. The days of Guardiola's Barca vs Mourinho's Real Madrid were fantastic though.

Traditional rivalries aside, Liverpool vs City is a huge game now because of the competitiveness between the 2.

 

[Zlaatan]

Not talking about stuff like the CL final, I’m talking about regular fixtures between two teams.

I think undoubtedly, El Clasicó has been the standout fixture of the last decade. Now, however, I think it’s lost its allure, and is levels below what it once was.

Do people still think this is the standout fixture? Or is Liverpool v United now the one, or the Manchester derby perhaps? I think Inter v Juve is one to watch, as it’s by far the only two really top teams in Italy now.

I don’t know what the viewing figures suggest. I’m sure Clasico was pulling in near a billion in it’s prime.

El Clasico has lost a bit of sting now that Ronaldo is gone but it's still the biggest game in my opinion simply because they are still two of the very best teams in the world. If United had been as good as we were a decade ago then I'd rank the derby or the Liverpool games right up there, but that's sadly not the case right now.

 

[duffer]

I hate it when people call Real v Barca "El Classico". I don't even know why I hate it but I do.

 

[Tomuś]

I think Liverpool vs City is becoming a thing now, especially for the younger ones.

 

[Andersonson]

River vs Boca. That game has me tuning in from norway

 

[broccoli]

Real vs Barca
City vs Liverpool
Juve vs Barca
Juve vs Real

The only id bother as a neutral tbh.

 

[kopviolator]

Rangers v Celtic used to be something

 

[carvajal]

I hate it when people call Real v Barca "El Classico". I don't even know why I hate it but I do.

I do not like it either. It is an invention of the press. When I was a kid we simply said Madrid-Barça

 

[LilyWhiteSpur]

Ballymena United VS Coleraine FC

The timeless chant of "Oh we hate Coleraine and we hate Coleraine, oh we hate Coleraine we do".

 

[harms]

I hate it when people call Real v Barca "El Classico". I don't even know why I hate it but I do.

I hate it too, how hard it is to learn the correct spelling? Although even an "El Clásico" can be fecking annoying.

As for the question, it's still Madrid - Barça for me; on quality alone City - Liverpool are probably ahead at the moment, but I just don't feel the same nerve there, it's such a new thing. Maybe in a few years...

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

I think Liverpool vs City is becoming a thing now, especially for the younger ones.

Indeed. Our games against the other big teams are still attractive games but there's no doubt when we're not competing at the top of the league with Liverpool and City their own games have taken on a new relevance.

 

[duffer]

I hate it too, how hard it is to learn the correct spelling? Although even an "El Clásico" can be fecking annoying.

It's a subconscious thing with me, I always miss-spell things I don't respect. Sorry Hairms.

 

[Rozay]

I don’t agree that Liverpool City has surpassed any games they may have against United. Not sure what the broadcast stats say, but I don’t get the impression that they have surpassed us in terms of interest. United Liverpool must still get more attention than Liverpool vs City.

 

[harms]

It's a subconscious thing with me, I always miss-spell things I don't respect. Sorry Hairms.

No worries @Duffy

 

[LilyWhiteSpur]

It's a subconscious thing with me, I always miss-spell things I don't respect. Sorry Hairms.

Off topic but I forgot we had you this weekend, should be a good one. No real love lost between our fans either.

 

[Rozay]

Real Barca was before the PL money really went through the roof. Typically, that game had the very best footballers on the world at the same time. Littered with World Cup winners, Ballon D’or winners, world transfer record holders all at the same time.

 

[André Dominguez]

River vs Boca. That game has me tuning in from norway

I think this is still a huge game. Fierce rivalry at its best, something that you cannot find almost anywhere.

Although they have lower quality, the greek and turkish derbies can become nasty (sometimes they have to play with empty stadiums to avoid clashes)

 

[vkd]

For me personally nothing will ever surpass United - Liverpool. For the neutrals though Liverpool - City is gathering a lot of pace.

 

[Gio]

Another vote for Barcelona and Real, although the big league derbies are slowly losing their soul as the stadiums fill up with tourists. For that reason alone I reckon the major derbies where the stakes are the highest for all of those involved are the big ones in Argentina, Turkey, Greece, Scotland and perhaps one or two others.

 

[Halds]

I don’t agree that Liverpool City has surpassed any games they may have against United. Not sure what the broadcast stats say, but I don’t get the impression that they have surpassed us in terms of interest. United Liverpool must still get more attention than Liverpool vs City.

For me personally nothing will ever surpass United - Liverpool. For the neutrals though Liverpool - City is gathering a lot of pace.

I agree. Liverpool - City are irrelevant as a rivalry. Liverpool - United will always be the one for me.

 

[Rozay]

For me personally nothing will ever surpass United - Liverpool. For the neutrals though Liverpool - City is gathering a lot of pace.

Who are the ‘neutrals’? And who said it’s gathering pace? I never get that impression ahead of that game. Not beyond the significance of the importance of the points, but other than that, nobody is really checking in the summer for the Liverpool City game.

 

[Botim]

I agree. Liverpool - City are irrelevant as a rivalry. Liverpool - United will always be the one for me.

Who are the ‘neutrals’? And who said it’s gathering pace? I never get that impression ahead of that game. Not beyond the significance of the importance of the points, but other than that, nobody is really checking in the summer for the Liverpool City game.

I feel like these kinds of remarks are those of people in denial. Off course for fans of Utd Liverpool is still the most important game of the year. But we've been slipping from the top echelons for so long now that this is probably no longer the case for the general public. Let's not bury our head in the sand and acknowledge that we need to get back to competing as soon as possible! We are losing out on an entire generation of young and foreign fans. I'm not saying we're not a huge pull anymore, but we have to be careful about arrogantly claiming we'll be top dogs forever, just because we used to be...

To corroborate this, from the official EPL site (viewing numbers from last season):

Sky also recorded its highest average live audience for four years and had its best viewing figures for a single match in seven seasons when Man City hosted Liverpool.

BT Sport had its best ever Premier League season, including its largest UK live audience for a Premier League match, when 1.7million watched Liverpool v Arsenal.

Man City v Liverpool brought record numbers to their screens in Netherlands, Canada and Denmark.

in Brazil, Chelsea v Man City drew record numbers of fans.

link here

 

[do.ob]

Who are the ‘neutrals’? And who said it’s gathering pace? I never get that impression ahead of that game. Not beyond the significance of the importance of the points, but other than that, nobody is really checking in the summer for the Liverpool City game.

If you have no emotional attachment to the Liverpool:United rivalry then it isn't even close.
City vs Liverpool: perhaps the two best coaches in the game right now, going at each other with modern attacking football, considerable title implications.
United vs Liverpool: parking the bus.

 

[vkd]

Who are the ‘neutrals’? And who said it’s gathering pace? I never get that impression ahead of that game. Not beyond the significance of the importance of the points, but other than that, nobody is really checking in the summer for the Liverpool City game.

I think a few posters below that have generally touched the sentiments about why City - Liverpool is gathering pace and who the neutrals are.

 

[Rozay]

If you have no emotional attachment to the Liverpool:United rivalry then it isn't even close.
City vs Liverpool: perhaps the two best coaches in the game right now, going at each other with modern attacking football, considerable title implications.
United vs Liverpool: parking the bus.

Football is tribal, it’s not as simple as ‘the two teams who play the best football’ is the most anticipated game.

I see the way the media approach a game of United Liverpool and City Liverpool. City Liverpool have been the best two teams for less than two full seasons ffs. And if it changes, the fixture will again be irrelevant. The media are not all fans of our club, they push the game because it is huge, without the emotional attachment.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

United v Arsenal in that period.... .

Real v Barca had been the one for a while now but it's definitely lost it's allure. Hopefully United will climb back to the top because a strong United against this Liverpool becomes the biggest game in World football for sure.

 

[Rob]

For me, Liverpool-United will always be the biggest.

 

[Moorie86]

River vs Boca. That game has me tuning in from norway

This for me too

 

[mariachi-19]

United v Real is the biggest club game in world football. Has been for 20 years. What makes it that is that we dont play each other often and the supporter base.

 

[KarlHeinzRiedle13]

For me, Liverpool-United will always be the biggest.

Agreed, its a bit weird though how unimportant its been in history, when we were great the big games were Nottingham Forest, Everton & Arsenal, when United were great it was mostly Blackburn, Arsenal & Chelsea, and then like us City

 

[OutlawGER]

Not talking about stuff like the CL final, I’m talking about regular fixtures between two teams.

I think undoubtedly, El Clasicó has been the standout fixture of the last decade. Now, however, I think it’s lost its allure, and is levels below what it once was.

Do people still think this is the standout fixture? Or is Liverpool v United now the one, or the Manchester derby perhaps? I think Inter v Juve is one to watch, as it’s by far the only two really top teams in Italy now.

I don’t know what the viewing figures suggest. I’m sure Clasico was pulling in near a billion in it’s prime.

Sorry to say that to you in this forum, but these days no single game including United would be considered the standout fixture at all internationally.


El Clasico is still the standout fixture, probably followed by City vs Pool and maybe Bayern vs BVB (Der Klassiker) on its day.

 

[Rozay]

Sorry to say that to you in this forum, but these days no single game including United would be considered the standout fixture at all internationally.


El Clasico is still the standout fixture, probably followed by City vs Pool and maybe Bayern vs BVB (Der Klassiker) on its day.

In that case, just the top two teams at any given time. Liverpool have been better than us for 18 months. The City fixture is obviously captivating, but it’s because, RIGHT NOW, they are the best. But if they aren’t next season, the fixture will be irrelevant. Atletico interfering with things now and then never made the Clasico less special. I don’t think it’s about the two best teams alone. Liverpool vs City has no spice, no history.

This has nothing to do with me saying United are the best team or anything. It’s simply about interest in a football match. I mean, if you still think City Liverpool garners more interest than City United, then fair enough, but it’s not the impression I get here. And I don’t think I’ve watched a Clasico for about two years, maybe three. I used to watch them all.

 

[Redplane]

Arse against Spurs gotta be the biggest.

Battle of the perennial underperformers makes for a tantalizing game.

 

[Dante]

2019
1. City
2. Liverpool

2018
1. City
2. United

2017
1. Chelsea
2. Spurs

2016
1. Leicester
2. Arsenal

2015
1. Chelsea
2. City

City and Liverpool have had one fecking season of being direct competitors at the top of the table since 2014/15!!

The Premier League is getting bigger all the time, so there's always going to be a recency bias as to which matches draw in the biggest numbers. That's a given.

The idea that City/Liverpool is a 'big' rivalry is laughable. It just happens to have been an interesting 6 pointer for the last 18 months or so.

 

[Gambit]

United vs Liverpool is still the biggest club game in terms of viewing figures worldwide.

 

[Gringo]

El Classico was on the other day and I couldn't have cared less. Its lost its appeal at least for me.

 

[Snow]

Barcelona vs Real Madrid, or as duffer likes to call it 'The Classic', is the biggest game in football. It has some of the biggest numbers of a simple match and usually these fixtures play a big part in who wins the league in Spain. You can't say the same for any other fixture besides Celtic-Rangers really.

United-Liverpool is arguably the biggest. Two teams that usually compete for the title (at least one of them) and the teams with the biggest support in the most watched league.

If we view a fixture from the level of intensity on the pitch, the hate from the fans and don't look at TV numbers then you must take into consideration fixtures such as Galatasaray-Fenerbahce, Boca-River and Flamengo-Fluminese. Notable mentions to Partizan-Red Star, Panathinaikos-Olympiacos and Milan-Inter.

 

[Charles Miller]

I only care about Palmeiras x Corinthians tbh.

 

[R'hllor]

Quality of football aint on that high level as in top 5, otherwise it could be higher rated. Still, some say that it should be visited once at least, before you die, probably bull. Dunno, last time i was on derby game 15-20 years ago. Actually who i am bullshitting, just needed reason to link video below.

2:02 that poor muppet