Derby Week: Title set to be decided between rivals in Swedish heartland
Tradition strengthened by Hacken
Gothenburg is located on the west coast of Sweden on Kattegat Bay. With 600,000 inhabitants, it is the second largest city in the country after Stockholm. It has a number of nicknames - it is "student friendly" due to its two large universities, "green" due to its many parks, and is also known as "Sweden's football capital" due to its concentration of top clubs.
It's also home to the country's oldest-ever sports club, Orgryte IS, founded in 1887. Seven years later, GAIS (short for Gothenburg Athletic and Football Association) was born. The former was the absolute hegemon in the early days of the Swedish Football League, triumphing seven times out of the initial 10 editions (1896-1905).
One of its conquerors was another Gothenburg team, the now defunct IF in 1903.
It has won 18 championship titles to date and has only recently been moved to second place in the historical tables by Malmo FF, the most successful team of recent years.
Quite soon after Orgryte, IFK Goteborg and GAIS also celebrated their first league successes, back in the early 20th century. And so the first big Gothenburg derby was already created at that time.
But the list of successful teams from this city does not end there. They include BK Haecken, founded in 1940. However, it entered the elite company of Sweden's champions more than a century later than all its city rivals. It is the current Swedish champion, the defending champion from 2022.
City derby
A certain degree of rivalry has existed over the years between all five of the city's biggest clubs. That being said, even before IFK Goteborg was founded, Orgryte IS was the dominant unit. The latter was considered a middle and upper-class club, so IFK gained popularity within the working class immediately after its formation.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the main trend in urban society was gentlemanliness. It was common for football fans to support both their team and the opposition players.
However, this was definitely not the case in the relationship between IFK and Orgryte fans. Class struggle and different political views were stronger. There were frequent clashes and fights between the two camps. This seemed to foreshadow even then that the phenomenon of hooliganism would be felt on a large scale in Sweden a few decades later, following the 'model' of the British Isles.
Even today, Swedish club fans are notorious, both in a negative and positive sense. They often create an excellent atmosphere and go to stadiums in large numbers, which has been true for a long time. It was the derby between IFK Goteborg and Orgryte in 1959 that set a Swedish league record for spectators. More than 52,000 spectators attended the match. Another Gothenburg derby set a record for attendance in the second league. In 1976, more than 50,000 fans watched the match between IFK and GAIS.
El Vastico
As the fame of Orgryte and GAIS waned and IFK Gothenburg's star began to rise at the same time, the relationship within the original Gothenburg Big Three changed. However, the IFK footballers were soon joined by another strong competitor - IF Elfsborg from the nearby town of Boras.
It lies 65 kilometres east of Gothenburg. It is much smaller (70,000 inhabitants), but on the pitch Elfsborg started to tread on the heels of the "football capital of Sweden" in the 1930s. It was then that it replaced IFK on the throne.
The match between the two rivals is known as Vastderby (Western Derby) or also as El Vastico.
IFK Goteborg won its last (18th) title to date in 2007. A season earlier, Elfsborg's players also enjoyed a league championship after a long 45-year wait. Since then, both teams have been among the top teams in the Swedish league.
In addition to the natural tension between the two nearby towns, El Vastico has regained the charge of a strong sporting rivalry after many years. And it takes on a new, completely different dimension in the current season.
A duel that could decide
There are three rounds left in the Swedish top flight as it is played on a spring-autumn schedule. IFK Goteborg's footballers have been struggling in recent years and they are not doing well even in the Western derby against Elfsborg.
They have not beaten their rivals for 10 games in a row. The current situation is alarming for one of the biggest and most popular clubs in the country. IFK are currently in 13th position (out of 16) with only a three-point lead on the barrage. The famous club was last relegated from the top competition in 1970.
Their regional rivals from Boras have the exact opposite "worries", as Elfsborg are aiming for the title again. They currently have a two-point lead over second-placed Malmo.
And the local nervousness is heightened by the fact that city rival Hacken is in third place and could theoretically challenge for the defence of last year's triumph.
To complete the overall picture within Sweden's main football region, it should be noted that GAIS are fighting for promotion to the elite league from the second highest Superettan. They currently (also in the 2nd league with three rounds to go) hold the second promotion spot.
In the previous season GAIS was even in the third league.
Will the beautiful new stadium in Gothenburg experience joy, sadness or even both at the end of the season? Gamla Ullevi's 18,416-seat stadium is home to IFK Goteborg, as well as to GAIS and Orgryte, who are fighting for salvation in the second league. It will be clear in three weeks' time how these football tangles in the west of Sweden will turn out.
El Vastico with the hallmark of fighting for the title on the one hand and trying to save themselves on the other will tell a lot about it.
Follow it on Flashscore, the match has kick-off on Monday, October 30th at 18:10 GMT.
Other derbies of the week
Friday, October 27th
Ireland - Premier Division
South Dublin derby (South Dublin derby)
The rivalry between Dublin clubs St Patricks and Shamrock Rovers has only been growing in recent years. The reason for this is that Shamrock Rovers, Ireland's most successful club, moved to the new Tallaght Stadium in south Dublin in 2009, where St Patricks used to dominate.
Saturday, October 28th
Japan - J1 League
Osaka derby
One of the traditional trappings of Japan's top competition is a match between two clubs from the huge Osaka conurbation, home to around 20 million people. Their record is very even (27 wins for Cerezo - 15 draws - 29 wins for Gamba).
England - Premier League
West London derby (West London derby)
Chelsea is historically clearly the best club in West London. However, they finished behind their local rivals in last season's Premier League table. The last time the two rivals met (in April 2023), Brentford won 2-0 at Chelsea's ground.
Spain - LaLiga
El Clasico
One of the world's most prestigious and watched football matches between the most successful clubs in Catalonia and Spain. Various derivations and adaptations of the name Clásico refer to countless other derbies or football rivalries around the world.
Sunday October 29th
Netherlands - Eredivisie
De Topper ("Top" match)
In Dutch football, the biggest rivalry is the match between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam (the so-called De Klassieker). Close behind, however, is the clash between the two historically top teams. After Ajax (36 titles), the other is PSV Eindhoven (24 titles). However, Ajax enter this year's competition as the penultimate team in the table.
England - Premier League
Manchester United - Manchester City
Manchester derby
Manchester clubs United and City are huge names in football and so are their derbies against each other. The two (albeit under different names) first faced each other back in 1881. St. Mark's (later City) hosted Newton Heath LYR (subsequently United). Back then, Newton Heath footballers won 3-0.
Hungary - OTP Bank Liga
Budapest derby
One of the most important duels in Hungarian football. Regardless of the current form, the stadium is always full and the derby is tense. Ujpest hasn't beaten its rival since 2015, but currently the derby will be a battle for the top spot in the table.
Czech Republic - Fortuna Liga
Bohemians 1905 - Slavia Prague
Vrsovice derby
In addition to the battles of the Prague "S" between the biggest clubs Sparta and Slavia, various small Prague derbies are also taking place. One of them is the match between Slavia and Bohemians. Both teams are based in Vrsovice, and on the tram ride from one stadium to the other, there is only one stop in between.
Paraguay - Primera División
Olimpia Asuncion - Cerro Porteno
El Clasico del futbol Paraguayo (The Clásico of Paraguayan football)
A battle between two of the most successful clubs with the biggest fan base spread across Paraguay. These are Cerro Porteno and Club Olimpia, both based in the capital Asuncion. They have competed in 450 competitions since 1913!
Brazil - Serie A
Clássico alvinegro (White and Black Clasico)
Corinthians and Santos are two of the biggest and most successful teams from Sao Paulo, a megalopolis of more than 20 million people, making it one of the largest ever in the world. As the club colours are both white and black, Corinthians and Santos compete against each other in what is known as the White and Black Clasico.
Monday, October 30th
Greece - Super League
AEK Athens - PAOK Thessaloniki
Double-headed eagles derby
The letter "K" in the case of both clubs' abbreviations refers to Constantinople (today's Istanbul). This is where the founders of both AEK and PAOK, who were Greek refugees, originated. The symbol of Constantinople is the double-headed eagle, another link between the rival sides.
