What Will You Watch This Weekend? El Súper Clásico, Superclásico, or Whatever We’re Calling the Liverpool vs Man Utd Derby?

We have three big derbies happening this weekend: We have El Súper Clásico in Mexico, the Superclásico in Argentina and what I’d consider the equivalent in England when Liverpool host Man Utd (can we call it The Super Classic?)

Here’s a quick lowdown on the three big games, and a question: Which game or games will you be watching this weekend?

Club America vs C.D. Guadalajara – El Súper Clásico – Sunday, October 25th
It’s the big game because it’s Mexico’s two biggest and historically most successful teams. But it’s not going so well for either this season. We’re coming towards the end of the 2009 Mexican Apertura, with just five games to go. The 18 teams are divided into three groups of six, where the top two from each group make the Liguilla (the playoffs) plus the next two best teams when everything’s combined into a single table. Right now America are third in their group but fifth in the overall table. So they might make it, but are on a bit of a slide having lost their last two.

Chivas are third in their group and ninth overall. So if the Liguilla started today they wouldn’t qualify. Which would not be good. All of which – plus the usual honour and pride – makes this is a huge game for both teams. Plus, as you may have read earlier today, it’s in 3D.

River Plate vs Boca Juniors – Superclásico – Sunday, October 25th
Two more big teams who aren’t having things their own way. The Argentinean Apertura got a late start this season due to some well publicized financial problems. These two Buenos Aires teams might be wishing it had never started at all, as Boca are halfway down the table in 10th, and River flirting with relegation in 16th.

River Plate Offside’s Christian sums up the rivalry pretty succinctly in his Superclásico preview: “Every season, River Plate fans demand only three things: win the league, win the Copas (the Libertadores and the Sudamericana), and beat Boca Juniors in the bi-annual Superclásico.”

The first two goals are out of reach, so this is pretty much River’s season right here. El Monumental will be bouncing. And of course, Boca super-fan Diego Maradona will no doubt have something outrageous to say after the game, so I’ll probably just start writing that post now.

Liverpool vs Man Utd – Sunday, October 25th
It’s sometime referred to as the North-west Derby, but that doesn’t quite seem dramatic enough. Basically, these two hate each other. But it feels like something is missing. This should have been the year that Liverpool and Man Utd – now tied on 18 English league titles each – battled it our for the 19th. But instead Liverpool have made a horrible start and sit 8th after nine games, while Man Utd have made an average and yet still somehow find themselves top.

So this is definitely bigger for Liverpool than Man Utd, in terms of short term impact anyway. Which might be why Rafa Benitez has included the formerly Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres in his squad. Also, this may be the only ‘Pool vs Utd preview this week not to explicitly mention a certain inflatable object intended for use in coastal areas.

update#1: Spotted this late, but we also have PSG vs Marseille in France. PSG have picked up just three points in their last five games, and it’s been suggested that coach Antoine Kombouare needs a win against OM to stay employed.

update#2: It’s also Fenerbahçe vs Galatsaray in Turkey. The only derby I know of with two teams from the same city, but separate continents. What an incredible weekend.

So… which of these games will you watch this weekend? Or maybe you’re watching something else? I’ll be watching the West Midlands derby where Wolves host Aston Villa for example. How about you?

also: If this post has put you in a derby mood, then check out our Top 5 Most Interesting Derbies in World Football podcast.

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Category: World Football