More than a game
Why do we watch soccer? Why do we sit every weekend in front of the TV and support our favorite team? Why do we scream when Cristiano Ronaldo misses the target and cry when Messi scores again? Emotions. We watch soccer games to feel love, commitment and hope, even though we are aware that we can also feel pain and disappointment. We do not only watch the game, but we also go to completely different world, where not everyone can enter and we look angrily when somebody says "Why do you care so much? It's just a game." But it is not. It is so much more, especially in specific situations when two biggest rivals meet. In those games it does not matter which team is higher in general table or which team won last time. What matters is 90 minutes, one ball and two goals.
Let's start with the most obvious example of the biggest rivals in soccer history. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Without a doubt great teams with the most titles and amazing number of fans all over the world. Their games always gain a lot of attention no matter where they take place. Their rivalry is intense, because they both aspire to be considered the best team in whole world. Games between them arouse a lot of controversy, because there are a lot of misunderstanding regarding, for example referees, who sometimes tend to be bias depending who they support. Both teams have great players like of course Cristiano Ronaldo in Real Madrid and Lionel Messi in FC Barcelona. However, Gerard Picque, Neymar and Luis Suarez together create deadly combination. Real Madrid can be proud of having Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and young Marco Asencio. El Clasico is never boring, because it is never obvious who will win.
Another big rivalry is between Borussia Dortmund and Shalke 04. Both teams have a long and eventful history together starting in early 1900s. Because of disagreements regarding different politic views, both teams decided to develop in two separate ways. There is no doubt that both supporters of BVB and Shalke prepare for games at least week before. The intensity of it is visible and there is without a doubt, this is so much more than just a game. It is a matter of dignity and players are well aware that they cannot just give up. Even though, in past few years Borussia Dortmund was more successful, everyone knows that statistics do not matter when the game starts. Marco Reus, Pierre-Emeric Aubamuyang and Mario Goetze are for sure dangerous in attack, but Shalke does not give up and also has many good players, who can make the difference on the pitch. Their games arouse a lot of attention and emotions which cannot be compered and explained unless you are on the stadium.
There are of course many great rivalry in soccer like, for example, Manchester United and Manchester City. All of them are important and bring up many memories and create even more. They enable every supporter to feel sense of belonging to something bigger than nationality. Despite the differences, everyone is engaged and feel so much pride, joy and happiness and this is the beauty of soccer and sport in general. We have the opportunity to be a part of something amazing.
