Not only that, it is well-known across the world, but there are some rivalries or derby matches that not many neutrals will know about.
One that has grown legs over the years is the Crystal Palace vs Brighton and Hove Albion rivalry – the media have dubbed it the A23 or M23 derby.
Celtic hero Matt O’Riley has played and scored in the Glasgow derby, so he understands and knows what it is like to perform under such intense heat.
But, on Saturday afternoon, O’Riley got a taste of the Palace-Brighton derby when he started for Fabian Hurzeler’s side at Selhurst Park.
O’Riley and his Brighton teammates were involved in some encounter, as the Premier League delivered a classic.
Three men were sent off, in a match where Palace scored after three minutes, and then the away team equalised. The home side then went back ahead, before chaos ensued with the sending offs
Brighton fans laud Celtic hero Matt O’Riley despite derby defeat to Crystal Palace
It wasn’t a surprise when O’Riley left Celtic to join Brighton in the summer because the powers that be at Parkhead had no choice but to accept the record-breaking transfer money that was put on the table.
But life has been tough for O’Riley, and he wasn’t helped by the fact that, minutes into his debut, he was injured and out for months.
That stalled the Denmark star’s progression, but he was handed a rare start against Palace, and despite the painful defeat for those Brighton fans, they were pretty positive about what they saw from the former Celtic man, as they explained on social media.
@BrightonBubble was clear: ‘Matt O’Riley has been superb imo’.
@kyepalmer25 is loving O’Riley on the ball: ‘He’s scared to make a tackle though. Not bad on the ball but he needs to get stuck in more’.
@Shadowmaster773 added: ‘He has played really well’.
@bhalebaprop thinks O’Riley was a bright spark: ‘Definitely one of our better players’.
@bhafcriley was clear: ‘Matt o’riley Special’.
@LemmyG10 continued the theme: ‘Matt O’Riley, one word. Superb’.
@SeagullsAmerica wants to see more of O’Riley: ‘He looks very good even though he is nervous and making easy pass to minteh rather than be more aggressive sometimes – needs more playing time’.
@Reginald_BHAFC explained amid the pain: ‘really painful loss today, at least gomez and o’riley looked good today’.
@GroBmisconduct2 with a clear message: ‘When Veltman is back we have to be starting O’Riley Baleba Hinsh in midfield week in week out, easily our best midfield’.
O’Riley’s stats for Brighton against Palace
Celtic fans are well aware of what O’Riley is capable of and he is a player who you would pay to watch because he is so calm and natural on the ball.
Perhaps the Brighton supporters won’t see the best of the playmaker until next season because this campaign has been injury-disrupting.
But, to lose a derby match, where three men were sent off and to come out with a rating of seven by WhoScored is pretty healthy.
