The Classics and Their Psychology

Alberto Mudjadju"

A football match can have a significant impact on people's emotional state, both positively and negatively. Positive effects include euphoria and joy, especially when their team wins, sense of identity and belonging, community and socialization, strategy and emotion (generating a certain excitement and suspense). Negative aspects can also be found, such as anxiety and stress, disappointment and sadness, rivalry and conflict, pressure and expectation. But it's the positive side that football lovers prefer to focus on, particularly regarding mental health, as it aims to reduce stress, improve mood, and foster social connection (some even claim that football discussions are a kind of opium for the people). In short, a football match can have a significant impact on people's emotional state, both positively and negatively. It's important to emphasize that football is just a game, and that mental health and social well-being should be prioritized.  

The best football classics and derbies worldwide are true spectacles, full of emotion and rivalries. A classic can be understood as a confrontation between two teams with a long history of rivalry and success in football, generally involving teams of great tradition and popularity. A derby, on the other hand, refers to a confrontation between two teams from the same city or region, involving teams with an intense local rivalry. There are some considered the most exciting matches in football, starting with El Clásico, which pits Real Madrid against Barcelona in Spain, one of the most intense classics in the world, with a rivalry that goes beyond football. We also have the Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate, one of the oldest and most exciting classics in South America, featuring these two Argentinian clubs. Next, there's the Old Firm, the Scottish classic between Celtic and Glasgow, a rivalry that involves religious and cultural issues (Catholics and Protestants). We also have the Derby della Madonnina, which pits the Italian teams AC Milan and Inter Milan against each other, a classic that divides the city of Milan in two. It's almost impossible to talk about football without mentioning Brazil, with the Fla-Flu derby between Flamengo and Fluminense, one of the oldest and most exciting classics in Brazilian football, as well as Corinthians versus Palmeiras, a classic involving two of the biggest teams from the "lands of Vera Cruz" (Brazil). History in football also plays a significant role; one cannot forget those who helped in the early stages of this sport, England with the enticing Manchester United versus Liverpool, a rivalry involving two of the biggest teams in England. The city of Istanbul in Turkey is divided in two because of the rivalry between Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe. In Africa, we also have one of the best classics on a global scale, pitting Al Ahly and Zamalek, both from Egypt, against each other. In Portugal, there's a classic match that also deserves special attention in terms of emotions, where two great teams from different cities (Lisbon and Porto), represented by SL Benfica and FC Porto, clash – a rivalry that can transcend many limits. And for those who think that football isn't played in Israel, they're very wrong, as we have here one of the biggest derbies in the world, between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, known as HaDerbi HaYisrael (the Israel derby), two of the most popular and successful teams in the country.

Football is a sport that can evoke intense and extreme emotions in many people, due to factors such as passion and loyalty; identity and sense of belonging; expectations and pressure; rivalry and competition; media and social networks. This can, in a way, lead to extreme behaviors such as aggression and violence, despair, sadness, and euphoria. It's important to emphasize that football is just a game and that mental and emotional health should be prioritized. Maintaining a healthy and balanced perspective on sport, particularly football, is always fundamental, and not letting oneself be carried away by extreme emotions.

2025/12/3