Clásico de Avellaneda

The Clásico de Avellaneda is a fierce football rivalry between Racing Club and Independiente, two of Argentina's 'Big Five' clubs. Both clubs are located in the city of Avellaneda, which is part of the Greater Buenos Aires urban area. Their stadiums are located less than a mile apart from each other.

The matches are often played in front of massive crowds, as Independiente's Estadio Libertadores de América holds around 48,000 fans, while Racing's Estadio Presidente Perón (El Cilindro) holds over 50,000. The atmosphere is intensely loud and volatile. Because of the proximity, away fans traditionally do not attend regular league matches due to safety regulations.

While the Superclásico (Boca Juniors vs. River Plate) is the most internationally famous Argentine derby, the Clásico de Avellaneda is widely considered the second most intense and historically significant rivalry in the country. The fans share the same working-class neighborhood, making the geographic and cultural hatred extremely concentrated.

The roots of the rivalry go back to the early 1900s; Independiente was founded in 1905, and Racing in 1903, with both clubs eventually settling in Avellaneda. In the early 20th century, during Argentina's amateur era, Racing Club achieved an unprecedented streak of seven consecutive league titles. This massive success bred deep jealousy among their cross-town rivals.