Football Derbys Europe: Five thrilling matches to return in 2025/26

The match schedules for the top leagues Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and more have been released – and it's a blessing that some football derbies in Europe will return in the new 2025/26 season. Our editorial team has picked five derbies we've missed from the schedules for a long time.

But what actually qualifies as a derby? Well, the term “derby” in relation to football and other team sports originated in medieval England. The Shrovetide football match between participants from the village of Ashbourne in Derbyshire is considered the namesake. The first modern football derby in England was played in 1866 between two of the oldest football clubs: Nottingham Forest, founded in 1865, and Notts County, founded in 1862.

Top Derbies in Europe – One Duel stands above all

In England, the North-East derby between Liverpool FC and Manchester United clearly belongs in the “Top Derbies in Europe” category – as the “Reds” and the “Red Devils” are tied as record champions of English football, each with 20 league titles as of 2025.

For me, the best derby in Europe is the Old Firm in Glasgow between the Rangers and Celtic FC. Since 2025, both teams share the title of “Scottish record champion” with 55 titles each. The atmosphere in Glasgow is electrifying even the night before, with fans warming up their voices in pubs. Thanks to the “Glasgow model” – separate travel for both fan groups to and from the rival stadiums – the police have significantly reduced the intensity of this encounter, which has been played since 1888. Old Firm tickets, a title-deciding clash in the Scottish Premiership, are available at event-breaks.com.

The same goes for Italy’s biggest city clash, the Derby della Madonnina, with Inter facing AC Milan. Last year, Milan’s cup win in the Coppa Italia semi-final marked the beginning of a titleless season for Inter Milan.

Germany currently has to do without its biggest derby – BVB vs Schalke 04. The last one took place in Schalke’s relegation season, 2022/2023. On May 12, 2007, BVB prevented Schalke 04 (2:0) from winning the championship in their own stadium.

Derby Fixtures 2025/26: These Matches are back

Welcome back! The Tyne-and-Wear derby between Newcastle United and promoted AFC Sunderland returns to the Premier League in England after a ten-year break and both traditional clubs having been relegated in the meantime.

“This derby,” says Michael Mordey, a member of the Sunderland City Council, “will really boost football in our region.”

The cities of the two rivals, Newcastle and Sunderland, are just 19 kilometers apart. On March 20, 2016, I had the honor as a reporter to cover the most recent Premier League derby between Newcastle United and AFC Sunderland (1:1) live. A treat for anyone planning a Premier League football trip!

By midday (kick-off was at 2:30 p.m.), the pubs around St. James’ Park were buzzing. Loud derby chants from fans, boos for “The Black Cats” with every touch, and huge cheers when Aleksander Mitrovic (83rd minute) equalized 1:1 to save “The Magpies” from a derby defeat.

Newcastle United vs AFC Sunderland – this derby has been played 152 times in all competitions, with 54 wins for United and 50 for Sunderland.

The English second division (Championship) will also see the return of the East Anglian derby between Norwich City and Ipswich Town after a one-year break.

“The Tractor Boys” from Ipswich only lasted one season in the Premier League and – considering the long histories of both clubs – it’s surprising that they are now playing their 79th derby against “The Canaries” from Norwich, who they haven’t beaten since 2009 (3:2). Top scorer in this derby is Ipswich striker John Wark with nine goals.

The upcoming season will also see the return of the Rhine derby between 1. FC Köln and Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 10 (07 / 09 November 2025) – with Köln enjoying home advantage. The return match at Borussia Park is scheduled for Matchday 27 (20 / 22 March 2026).

Also back after a 14-year absence is the Hamburg derby between HSV and FC St. Pauli. It's already on Matchday 2 (August 30, 2025) – with HSV, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, playing at home in the Volksparkstadion. The return match at the Millerntor is on January 24, 2026 (Matchday 19).

In France, 2025/26 brings a derby where the stadiums are almost next to each other: Paris Saint-Germain vs FC Paris. This almost forgotten city rivalry was last played in 1990 and only during the 1989/90 season. Both matches ended in a draw, so Paris is still waiting for a derby winner…

What Are the Top Derbies in Germany?

In the Rhineland, there are many games with derby character, but the Rhine derby is generally considered to be Cologne FC vs Borussia Mönchengladbach (Tickets) and is often listed among the top five derbies in Germany by fans.

It reached a dramatic peak on April 29, 1978, when “Effzeh” and the “Foals” from Mönchengladbach had a goal-fest on the final day of the 1977/78 Bundesliga season. Gladbach beat BVB in Düsseldorf 12:0. It wasn’t enough for their fourth straight title, as Cologne simultaneously triumphed 5:0 in Hamburg against FC St. Pauli.

Football fans in Hamburg experienced a long derby drought – HSV vs FC St. Pauli last happened in February 2011, when the “Kiezkicker” celebrated one of just two derby wins in their Bundesliga history at the Volksparkstadion.

Fans in Bavaria have been waiting for the Franconian-Bavarian derby between 1. FC Nürnberg and FC Bayern Munich since 2019, following Nürnberg’s last relegation. The “Club” was overtaken as German record champion by Bayern back in 1987.

The last derby win for 1. FC Nürnberg in 105 matches against Munich came on February 2, 2007. FCN won 3:0 during the comeback of Bayern’s successful coach Ottmar Hitzfeld – I had the pleasure of covering that match live – and turned the wintery Max-Morlock-Stadion into a madhouse.

Well, that's derby.