Boca vs River

EL SUPERCLASICO

It is not the most "local" derby in Argentina (the clubs are about 7 km apart, in Buenos Aires) but it grips the country for days. The rivalry, hatred and violence involved are based on social class and money. Both clubs were founded in the poor district of Buenos Aires called La Boca. Boca Juniors stayed there while River Plate moved in the 1930s to the smart district called Nuñez. Boca vs River is 90 minutes of deafening noise and huge avalanches of standing fans behind the goal.

Boca Juniors' stadium is known as "La Bombonera" ('The Box of Chocolates') because of its layout: the stands are very steep and there is no running track. The atmosphere there is EXTREMELY intimidating. River Plate's Estadio Monumental is officially called Antonio Vespucio Liberti after the former club president.

Both clubs have supporters of all social classes, but the majority of Boca supporters are working class, while River Plate is the preferred club of the middle and upper classes. 40% of Argentinian football fans follow Boca and 32% follow River Plate. Boca's supporters call River's supporters "Gallinas" ('Chickens'). In return River's supporters call Boca's supporters "Bosteros" ('Manure Collectors') - a reference to the smell of the sewers and the polluted river in La Boca. The 'official' nickname of the Boca fans is Xeneizes. It means Genoese
(the core of the club's early support came from Genovese immigrants).

Why does Boca play in blue and yellow ?
Boca Juniors play in the blue and yellow of the Swedish national team because the founders of the club liked the colours of a Swedish ship docked in La Boca.

What's the meaning of the red stripe on the River Plate shirt?
On a carnival night which was coming to its end, an old cart appeared looking for a place to rest. On the rear of the cart hung an untidy silk red ribbon. A quintet of lads decided to steel it as one of their many pranks. This had a reason: to add a touch of colour to the white shirt that, up to that moment, identified River Plate. They first wore the red stripe diagonally and later they pinned it on. The idea was a success. The new shirt was first worn in a match against "Maldonado", a club from Palermo, the score isn't known, but River beat them. For sure, that cart driver never got to know that, without meaning to, he contributed to give light to one of the most famous shirt worldwide. (www.carp.org.ar)

H2H
08 Oct 2006 River Plate - Boca Juniors 3 - 1
26 Mar 2006 Boca Juniors - River Plate 1 - 1
16 Oct 2005 River Plate - Boca Juniors 0 - 0
22 May 2005 Boca Juniors - River Plate 2 - 1
07 Nov 2004 River Plate - Boca Juniors 2 - 0
17 June 2004 River Plate - Boca Juniors 2 - 1
10 June 2004 Boca Juniors - River Plate 1 - 0
16 May 2004 Boca Juniors - River Plate 0 - 1
09 Nov 2003 River Plate - Boca Juniors 1 - 2
01 June 2003 Boca Juniors - River Plate 2 - 2

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