Guangzhou Derbies


The Guangzhou Derbies, or Canton Derbies are various local derbies between the football teams of Guangzhou. The term specifically refers to individual matches between the teams, but can also be used to describe the general rivalry between the different clubs. Guangzhou Apollo against Guangzhou Matsunichi and Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao against Guangzhou R&F are ranked as two of the most ferocious Guangzhou Derbies.

Clubs

As of 2020 season, there are two clubs in the Chinese Super League, China League One and China League Two that play in Guangzhou:
Former clubs in the highest league include Guangdong Hongyuan F.C. and Guangzhou Matsunichi F.C.. Guangzhou Baiyunshan F.C., Guangdong Xiongying F.C. and Guangdong Sunray Cave F.C. were formerly in the second-tier league.

Guangzhou Apollo against 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. 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. 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. 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.

Official match results

SeasonCompetitionDateHome teamResultAway team
1995Chinese FA Cup25 June 1995Guangzhou Matsunichi
4–2
Guangzhou Apollo
1995Chinese FA Cup2 July 1995Guangzhou Apollo
1–0
Guangzhou Matsunichi
1996Chinese Jia-A League5 May 1996Guangzhou Matsunichi
1–4
Guangzhou Apollo
1996Chinese Jia-A League8 September 1996Guangzhou Apollo
1–0
Guangzhou Matsunichi
1998Chinese Jia-A League9 April 1998Guangzhou Apollo
2–2
Guangzhou Matsunichi
1998Chinese Jia-A League9 August 1998Guangzhou Matsunichi
3–1
Guangzhou Apollo
2000Chinese Jia-B League15 April 2000Guangzhou Apollo
0–0
Guangzhou Matsunichi
2000Chinese Jia-B League16 July 2000Guangzhou Matsunichi
1–3
Guangzhou Apollo

Statistics

Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao against Guangzhou R&F

History

When Guangzhou R&F moved to the city of Guangzhou, a local derby, often referred to as the Canton derby, was born. The first Canton derby was at Yuexiushan Stadium on 16 March 2012 as Guangzhou Evergrande lost 2–0 against Guangzhou R&F. 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.

Official match results

SeasonCompetitionDateHome teamResultAway team
2012Chinese Super League16 March 2012Guangzhou R&F
2–0
Guangzhou Evergrande
2012Chinese Super League15 July 2012Guangzhou Evergrande
0–1
Guangzhou R&F
2013Chinese Super League27 April 2013Guangzhou R&F
0–2
Guangzhou Evergrande
2013Chinese Super League25 August 2013Guangzhou Evergrande
1–0
Guangzhou R&F
2014Chinese Super League9 May 2014Guangzhou Evergrande
0–1
Guangzhou R&F
2014Chinese Super League28 September 2014Guangzhou R&F
3–4
Guangzhou Evergrande
2015Chinese Super League23 May 2015Guangzhou Evergrande
2–2
Guangzhou R&F
2015Chinese Super League21 September 2015Guangzhou R&F
1–2
Guangzhou Evergrande
2016Chinese Super League1 April 2016Guangzhou Evergrande
2–0
Guangzhou R&F
2016Chinese Super League20 July 2016Guangzhou R&F
2–1
Guangzhou Evergrande
2016Chinese FA Cup Semi-finals17 August 2016Guangzhou Evergrande
2–2
Guangzhou R&F
2016Chinese FA Cup Semi-finals21 September 2016Guangzhou R&F
1–3
Guangzhou Evergrande
2017Chinese Super League8 April 2017Guangzhou Evergrande
2–2
Guangzhou R&F
2017Chinese Super League29 July 2017Guangzhou R&F
4–2
Guangzhou Evergrande
2017Chinese FA Cup R519 July 2017Guangzhou R&F
4–2
Guangzhou Evergrande
2017Chinese FA Cup R51 August 2017Guangzhou Evergrande
7–2
Guangzhou R&F
2018Chinese Super League2 March 2018Guangzhou Evergrande
4–5
Guangzhou R&F
2018Chinese Super League5 August 2018Guangzhou R&F
2–4
Guangzhou Evergrande
2019Chinese Super League6 April 2019Guangzhou Evergrande
2–0
Guangzhou R&F
2019Chinese Super League20 July 2019Guangzhou R&F
0-5
Guangzhou Evergrande
2020Chinese Super League30 July 2020Guangzhou R&F
0-5
Guangzhou Evergrande
2020Chinese Super League4 September 2020Guangzhou EvergrandeGuangzhou R&F

Statistics

Statistics as of 5 August 2018.
MatchesEvergrande winsDrawsR&F winsEvergrande goalsR&F goals
Chinese Super League168263325
Chinese FA Cup4211149
Official matches2010374734

Top goalscorers

Below is the list of players who have scored at least two goals in official meetings.
PositionNameTeamGoals
1 Eran ZahaviGuangzhou R&F13
2 Alan CarvalhoGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao8
2 Ricardo GoulartGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao8
2 RenatinhoGuangzhou R&F8
5 Ai KesenGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao4
5 Gao LinGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao4
5 PaulinhoGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao4
8 Abderrazak HamdallahGuangzhou R&F2
8 MíchelGuangzhou R&F2
8 MuriquiGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao2
8 Xiao ZhiGuangzhou R&F2
8 Yu HanchaoGuangzhou Evergrande Taobao2