The Avellaneda derby (clásico de Avellaneda) is the second-most important rivalry in Argentine football. It is contested between Club Atletico Independiente and Racing Club de Avellaneda, It is the second most important local derby, behind the Superclásico contested between Boca Juniors and River Plate, which are both based in the city of Buenos Aires. The Avellaneda derby is a major football rivalry. Both teams are very popular in Argentina, and are two of the "five big teams of Argentinian football."
Both clubs were founded in the early years of the 20th century, Racing on 25 March 1903 and Independiente on 1 January 1905. Independente were founded in Buenos Aires and moved to Avellaneda in 1907.
The first encounter between the two took place in 1907, with Independiente winning. The first top flight game between the two took place on 12 December 1915; Independiente won 2–1, but the result was overturned and Racing were awarded the victory. The two points from that game were enough for Racing to go on to win the 1915 championship.
Racing Club dominated the amateur era of Argentine football, winning more trophies than any other surviving team; they won nine to Independiente's two.
Racing Club's dominance extended into the 1950s where they became the first team in the professional era to win three consecutive championships (1949, 1950 and 1951).
In 1964, Independiente became the first Argentine team to win the Copa Libertadores.
In 1967, Racing Club became the first Argentine club to win the Copa Intercontinental; this achievement marked the end of Racing Club's supremacy.
Between 1972 and 1975, Independiente won an unprecedented four consecutive Copa Libertadores titles.
In 1984, Independiente won their seventh Copa Libertadores, earning them the nickname "King of Cups."
In 2001, Racing Club won the Apertura, their first league title in 35 years.
The most recent local title earned by either of the two clubs was the 2014 Argentine Primera División, won by Racing Club.
In 2010, Independiente won the Copa Sudamericana, the last international title earned by either team.
The two stadiums are only a few hundred metres apart. Independiente play at the Estadio Libertadores de América, commonly known as Doble Visera; it was opened on 4 March 1928. Racing Club play at the Estadio Juan Domingo Perón, commonly known as El Cilindro; it was opened on 3 September 1950.
Matches record as of 26 Enero de 2016
national league obtained from Universo Fútbol. International tournaments obtained from RSSSF. Amateur tournaments obtained from Clarin
On November 3, 1940 Independiente beat Racing 7–0, the biggest winning margin in the history of the derby.
On August 20, 1961 Independiente secured a 4–0 home win, unfotunately it was not enough to stop Racing club from eventually winning the championship.
On December 17, 1967 on the last day of the Nacional Independiente beat the visiting Racing Club team 4–0 with 2 goals from Luis Artime to win the championship.
The last round of fixtures during the Metropolitano 1970 saw River Plate beat Unión de Santa Fe 6–0 to give them a chance of stealing the championship for Independiente. On July 27 Independiente travelled to El Cilindro eventually winning the game 3–2 to give them the championship by the narrowest of margins, they finished level on points with River, both teams with a +18 goal difference, Independiente had scored 43 goals to River's 42.
On March 24, 1974 Independiente beat Racing 4–1 with a hat-trick from Ricardo Bochini, the only one he scored in 714 games for the club.
On May 19, 1974 during the Metropolitano 1974 Independiente won 5–1 at El Cilindro. They repeated the 5–1 away win less than one year later on March 2, 1975 in the Metropolitano 1975.
On December 22, 1983 in the last game of the Metropolitano Independiente knew that a win would see them crowned champions what's more the visiting Racing team had already been relegated from the Primera for the first time in the professional era of Argentine football. Independiente won 2–0 with goals from Ricardo Giusti and Enzo Trossero to win the championship.
On August 19, 2002 Independiente won 4–1 at River Plate Stadium on their way to winning the Apertura 2002 championship.
On September 11, 2005 Independiente won 4–0 at the Doble Visera, with a hat-trick from Nicolás Frutos and the best goal of Sergio Agüero.
On May 31, 1931 the teams were due to meet for the first round of fixtures of the professional era of Argentine football. Racing asked to postpone the game and Independiente accepted. This meant that the first game between the two took place on September 27 at Racing Club's ground the eventual score was 7–4 to Racing, it still stands as the highest scoring game between the two.
On September 15, 1963 Racing secured a 4–0 away win, unfortunately for them Independiente recovered to win the championship virtually mirroring the events of 1961.
On November 20, 1966 Racing Club were crowned as champions, one week later they played Independiente, and the game finished 3–3.
On September 21, 1975 during the Nacional Racing won 5–4 in el Cilindro with Alberto Jorge scoring 4 goals, three from the penalty spot. Jorge is the only player to score 4 in the Avellaneda derby and this was the last time that Racing were given 3 penalties in a game.
In 1992 Racing Club and Independiente met in the Supercopa Sudamericana, Racing Club won their home leg 2–1 and on October 8, 1992 held Independiente to a 0–0 draw to win on aggregate. It is the only time the two have met in international competition.
On August 26, 2001 in the 2nd round of fixtures Racing Club's Gabriel Loeschbor scored in the last minute of the game to earn a 1–1 draw. At the end of the Apertura 2001 Racing won the championship by one point.
The November 26, 1961 saw the most violent game between the two clubs, the referee was forced to suspend the game for 6 minutes due to fighting amongst the players. The referee eventually sent off 4 players from each team. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.
On August 13, 2006 the Avellaneda derby was abandoned after violence between the fans escalated out of control. Independiente were winning 2–0 in Libertadores de America when rioting started in the away stands. The Racing fans then started to attack the police, the game was eventually abandoned by referee Horacio Elizondo.
In the aftermath, the Argentine Football Association decided to take drastic action, this included banning all away fans in the top four divisions of Argentine football and banning Racing from their home ground. The three points from the game were eventually awarded to Independiente
This is a non-exhaustive list of players to have played for both clubs.
