Guangzhou derby

The Guangzhou derby or the Canton derby (simplified Chinese: 广州德比; traditional Chinese: 廣州打吡; pinyin: guǎngzhōu Débǐ) is the name given to a football derby contested by any two teams in the city of Guangzhou, China. The term specifically refers to individual matches between the teams, but can also be used to describe the general rivalry between the different clubs.^[1] Guangzhou Apollo (predecessor of Guangzhou) against Guangzhou Matsunichi (1995–2000) and Guangzhou against Guangzhou City are ranked as two of the most ferocious Guangzhou Derbies.^[2]

Clubs

As of 2024 season, there are two clubs in the Chinese Super League, China League One and China League Two that play in Guangzhou:

• Guangzhou (League One)
• Guangdong GZ-Power (League Two)

Former clubs in the highest league include Guangdong Hongyuan F.C. (Jia-A 1994-1997), Guangzhou Matsunichi F.C. (Jia-A 1996 & 1998-1999) and Guangzhou City (CSL 2012-2022). Guangzhou Baiyunshan F.C., Guangdong Xiongying F.C. and Guangdong Sunray Cave F.C. were formerly in the second-tier league.

Guangzhou Apollo v Guangzhou Matsunichi

History

When professionalism was established within the Chinese football leagues in 1994, it opened the door for more than one team within each region. This saw the establishment of Guangzhou Matsunichi which used to be the youth academy of Guangzhou FC but were sold off to Matsunichi Digital Holdings Limited.^[3] Direct ties between these two teams also saw them share the Yuexiushan Stadium. In their first meeting in the first round of the 1995 Chinese FA Cup, Matsunichi beat Guangzhou FC 4–3 on aggregate.^[4] For a brief period during the 1998 season, both teams were in the top tier with Matsunichi finishing higher than Guangzhou FC. On 9 August 1998 in the second Guangzhou Derby that season, a Chinese first-tier league record of five red cards and nine yellow cards was issued. Apollo's Peter Blazincic, Wen Junwu and Mai Guangliang as well as Matsunichi's Leonardo Jara and Tu Shengqiao were sent off during the match.^[5] The rivalry reached its peak and subsequent conclusion during the 2000 season with both clubs in the second tier fighting relegation. On 15 July 2000, Guangzhou FC won 3–1 against Matsunichi which inevitability helped lead to Matsunichi's relegation, causing Matsunichi to disband at the end of the season.^[6][7]

Official match results

  Guangzhou Apollo win   Draw   Guangzhou Matsunichi win

Season Competition Date Home team Result Away team 1995 Chinese FA Cup 25 June 1995 Guangzhou Matsunichi 4–2 Guangzhou Apollo 2 July 1995 Guangzhou Apollo 1–0 Guangzhou Matsunichi 1996 Chinese Jia-A League 5 May 1996 Guangzhou Matsunichi 1–4 Guangzhou Apollo 8 September 1996 Guangzhou Apollo 1–0 Guangzhou Matsunichi 1998 Chinese Jia-A League 9 April 1998 Guangzhou Apollo 2–2 Guangzhou Matsunichi 9 August 1998 Guangzhou Matsunichi 3–1 Guangzhou Apollo 2000 Chinese Jia-B League 15 April 2000 Guangzhou Apollo 0–0 Guangzhou Matsunichi 16 July 2000 Guangzhou Matsunichi 1–3 Guangzhou Apollo

Statistics

	Matches	Apollo wins	Draws	Matsunichi wins	Apollo goals	Matsunichi goals
Chinese Jia-A League	4	2	1	1	8	6
Chinese Jia-B League	2	1	1	0	3	1
Chinese FA Cup	2	1	0	1	3	4
Official matches	8	4	2	2	14	11

Guangzhou v Guangzhou City

History

When Guangzhou R&F (predecessor of Guangzhou City) moved to the city of Guangzhou, a local derby, often referred to as the Canton derby, was born.^[8] The first Canton derby was at Yuexiushan Stadium on 16 March 2012 as Guangzhou Evergrande (predecessor of Guangzhou) lost 2–0 against Guangzhou R&F.^[9] Relations between the two club owners remain cordial off the pitch and club owners Xu Jiayin and Zhang Li were seen enjoying a meal together instead of watching the second derby in 2012 which Guangzhou R&F also won.^[10][11]

Official match results

  Guangzhou win   Draw   Guangzhou city win

Season Competition Date Home team Result Away team 2012 Chinese Super League 16 March 2012 Guangzhou R&F 2–0 Guangzhou Evergrande 15 July 2012 Guangzhou Evergrande 0–1 Guangzhou R&F 2013 Chinese Super League 27 April 2013 Guangzhou R&F 0–2 Guangzhou Evergrande 25 August 2013 Guangzhou Evergrande 1–0 Guangzhou R&F 2014 Chinese Super League 9 May 2014 Guangzhou Evergrande 0–1 Guangzhou R&F 28 September 2014 Guangzhou R&F 3–4 Guangzhou Evergrande 2015 Chinese Super League 23 May 2015 Guangzhou Evergrande 2–2 Guangzhou R&F 21 September 2015 Guangzhou R&F 1–2 Guangzhou Evergrande 2016 Chinese Super League 1 April 2016 Guangzhou Evergrande 2–0 Guangzhou R&F 20 July 2016 Guangzhou R&F 2–1 Guangzhou Evergrande Chinese FA Cup semi-finals 17 August 2016 Guangzhou Evergrande 2–2 Guangzhou R&F 21 September 2016 Guangzhou R&F 1–3 Guangzhou Evergrande 2017 Chinese Super League 8 April 2017 Guangzhou Evergrande 2–2 Guangzhou R&F 29 July 2017 Guangzhou R&F 4–2 Guangzhou Evergrande Chinese FA Cup fifth round 19 July 2017 Guangzhou R&F 4–2 Guangzhou Evergrande 1 August 2017 Guangzhou Evergrande 7–2 Guangzhou R&F 2018 Chinese Super League 2 March 2018 Guangzhou Evergrande 4–5 Guangzhou R&F 5 August 2018 Guangzhou R&F 2–4 Guangzhou Evergrande 2019 Chinese Super League 6 April 2019 Guangzhou Evergrande 2–0 Guangzhou R&F 20 July 2019 Guangzhou R&F 0–5 Guangzhou Evergrande 2020 Chinese Super League 30 July 2020 Guangzhou R&F 0–5 Guangzhou Evergrande 4 September 2020 Guangzhou Evergrande 2–1 Guangzhou R&F 2021 Chinese Super League 20 April 2021 Guangzhou 2–2 Guangzhou City 24 July 2021 Guangzhou City 3–3 Guangzhou 2022 Chinese Super League 13 September 2022 Guangzhou City 1–0 Guangzhou 10 December 2022 Guangzhou 0–0 Guangzhou City

Statistics

Statistics as of 10 Dec 2022.

	Matches	Guangzhou wins	Draws	Guangzhou City wins	Guangzhou goals	Guangzhou City goals
Chinese Super League	22	10	5	7	45	32
Chinese FA Cup	4	2	1	1	14	9
Official matches	26	12	6	8	59	41

Top goalscorers

Below is the list of players who have scored at least two goals in official meetings.

Position	Name	Team	Goals
1	Eran Zahavi	Guangzhou R&F	13
2	Alan Carvalho	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	8
	Ricardo Goulart	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
	Renatinho	Guangzhou R&F
5	Ai Kesen	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao	4
	Gao Lin	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
	Paulinho	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
8	Abderrazak Hamdallah	Guangzhou R&F	2
	Míchel	Guangzhou R&F
	Muriqui	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao
	Xiao Zhi	Guangzhou R&F
	Yu Hanchao	Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao

References

1. "Evergrand tie with R&F in Guangzhou Derby".
2. "铸就经典!细数历年广州德比 现今温情已取代硝烟".
3. "广州松日". china.com.cn. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
4. "China 1995 – FA Cup". RSSSF. 1999-12-06. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
5. "7支广东球队闯荡中国职业足坛 南粤足球呈现复苏？". Sina. 2011-05-07. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
6. . gpcfootball.163.com. 2008-04-03. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
7. "China 2000". RSSSF. 2003-06-19. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
8. "Yuexiushan News: Canton Derby". wildeastfootball.net. 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
9. "张烁张远联袂发威 富力再爆冷2–0恒大". sports.sohu.com. 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
10. "Drunken Club Owners Miss Guangzhou Derby". wildeastfootball.net. 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
11. "Yak Attack Nicks Guangzhou Derby for R&F : Wild East Football". wildeastfootball.net. Retrieved 2016-03-12.