The Canary Islands derby is the name given to football matches contesting Spanish sides UD Las Palmas and C.D. Tenerife, who are generally regarded as the top two sides in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands derby is a match with a lot of rivalry and intensity that has always faced the islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife and its inhabitants. According to World Soccer Magazine, the Canary Islands derby is on the list of the 50 greatest rivalries in the world and is considered one of the most important and spectacular derbies in Spain. Las Palmas have generally been more successful in derby matches.
Contents
History
The two teams are on completely different islands, but have been the Canary Islands' top two sides virtually since their establishment. Both sides have endured spells in Spain's top division, La Liga. Whilst UD Las Palmas' greatest successes came in the 1960s and 70s, in a period when they came runners-up in La Liga just behind Real Madrid and in the Spanish Cup (losing to F.C. Barcelona in the final), competing in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (now UEFA Champions League) in 1969,and UEFA cup two times in 1972 and 1977. Tenerife's greatest successes came in the 1990s, if not as prestigious. They recorded their best ever league finish in 1992-93 and in 1995-96, in which they finished 5th. In fact, in 1996-97 they reached the semi finals of the UEFA Cup, losing to eventual winners Schalke 04.
UD Las Palmas
UD Las Palmas play their home games at the Estadio Gran Canaria which holds 31,250 seats. Located in the island's capital city of Las Palmas, the stadium is the biggest in the Canary Islands. In 2007 it hosted a Spain international friendly against Northern Ireland, which Spain won 1-0 with a goal from Xavi.
C.D. Tenerife
C.D. Tenerife play their home games at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López which holds 23,000 seats. Located in the island's capital city of Santa Cruz, it previously hosted four Spain internationals, against Germany, Switzerland, Poland and Slovakia respectively.
Sponsorship
Las Palmas is sponsored by La Caja de Canarias,Tenerife is sponsored by Caja Canarias, a Spanish saving banks with most of its branches in the Canary Islands.
Head to head
There have been sixty-four Canary Island derbies. UD Las Palmas have won twenty-nine of them, CD Tenerife have won thirteen and the other twenty-one have been draws.