Derby of the Eternal Enemies

Lore & Background

The rivalry between the two top Greek clubs can be traced back to social, cultural and regional differences. Panathinaikos, founded in 1908, comes from Athens and was considered the classic representative of the high class and old Athenian society of the Greek capital. On the other hand, Olympiacos was founded in 1925 and comes from the port city of Piraeus, thus attracting supporters from the surrounding working class areas. Both cities have played a major role in Greek history since classical antiquity. These class differences between the people in the homelands of the two clubs offered further reasons for the animosity between their fans. Olympiacos' early success provided a way for the people of Piraeus to express their contempt for the wealthier classes. Furthermore, Olympiacos attracted fans from all over Greece who believed themselves to be victims of social and political unfairness. Football hooliganism is a very common phenomenon between their fans in recent years, featuring anything from breaking seats and fighting to fireworks and street rioting. Domestically, Olympiacos is the most successful football club in Greece, having won a record 84 major official titles compared to Panathinaikos' 44 titles and also being the most successful in their head-to-head fixtures. Until 2024, Panathinaikos boasted of their better performance in European competitions. Their greatest success is the participation in the European Cup final in 1971, two semi-final appearances in the UEFA Champions League (1985, 1996) and four quarter-final appearances in the UEFA Champions League (1992, 2002) and UEFA Europa League (1988, 2003). This changed in 2024, when Olympiacos won the UEFA Conference League, becoming the first Greek team to win an official UEFA title. Other top performances are their campaign to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League in 1999 and their campaign to the quarter-finals of the 1992–93 European Cup Winners' Cup.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Parc des Princes is thick with humidity and anticipation. A sea of blue and red chants clashes violently with a distant, rhythmic drumming from the away section. On the pitch, the grass is worn down to dirt near the penalty box where two captains stand face-to-face, eyes locked. The referee blows the whistle, and for ninety minutes, there are no other teams in France—only Paris and Marseille. A tackle rings out like a gunshot, followed by a roar that shakes the stadium's steel beams. In this moment, history is not written in books; it is forged in mud, sweat, and the unyielding will to prove who truly owns French football.

Reader's Guide

The derby is contested between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. Both clubs have been in the top flight of Greek football since 1929, among the longest spells on the Continent. Their football departments attract the most fans, but the rivalry also extends into other team sports such as basketball, volleyball and water polo. Key records include: Olympiacos' record Alpha Ethniki win at home (4–0 on 26 February 1967) and away (4–1 on 16 May 2021); Panathinaikos' record Alpha Ethniki win at home (3–0 on 26 January 1992) and away (4–1 on 24 July 1960, 8 November 1987, and 3–0 on 2 March 2014). The longest sequence of Alpha Ethniki wins for Olympiacos is 5 (8 December 1996 – 8 May 1999), and for Panathinaikos is 3 (11 April 1977 – 31 December 1978). The highest attendance recorded at the Athens Olympic Stadium for the derby is 74,452 (0–0 draw on 18 November 1984).

Did You Know?

• The derby is also known among fans as the Mother of All Battles.
• Olympiacos has won a record 84 major official titles, compared to Panathinaikos' 44.
• In 2024, Olympiacos became the first Greek team to win an official UEFA title by winning the UEFA Conference League.
• Panathinaikos reached the European Cup final in 1971, the best performance by a Greek club in European competitions until 2024.
• The rivalry extends beyond football into basketball, volleyball, and water polo.