3 To See – The Weekend’s Football (19.9.09 – 21.9.09) – Manchester United, CSKA Sofia, Vålerenga

Sparks flew in last week’s Anglocentric 3 to See as Emmanuel Adebayor took centre stage in Manchester City’s 4-2 win over Arsenal, while in the other two games Manchester United beat Spurs 3-1 away and Aston Villa continued their derby dominance over Birmingham City with a 1-0 away win. This week’s 3 to See is all about fierce local rivalries:

1, Manchester United vs Manchester City (English Premier League) 13.30 GMT, Sunday 20th September 2009

One thing the controversies of last weekend at Eastlands managed to conveniently conceal is the fact that Manchester City have a 100% record in the Premier League so far this season. Many people felt prior to the new season that Mark Hughes had bought too many mercenaries, that he had splashed out too much on player wages to ever bring real harmony and team spirit to City. Well, so far those claims are looking baseless as City have shown impressive resilience and determination in climbing into the upper echelons of the league table. Certainly they looked a far hungrier team than Arsenal last week.

But the big test comes this weekend against their hated cross-town rivals Manchester United. The champions look like they are still finding their feet in the absence of Real Madrid’s new number 9, but an emphatic performance at White Hart Lane followed by a solid 1-0 win in Besiktas in a pressure cooker Turkish atmosphere has demonstrated that United still have the necessary resolve and class to challenge for honours this season.

Heading into the game United and City are 2nd and 3rd respectively, though the Red Devils have a game in hand on their neighbours. How City would love to prove they are the real deal this year by putting one over on Sir Alex Ferguson’s men at Old Trafford. The rivalry between City and United is well documented, and has been exacerbated recently with Carlos Tevez’s move across town.

Tevez is carrying an injury so might not play, but with Adebayor absent Hughes will be desperate to get the Argentine striker out on the pitch. Given the way he handled his move to Eastlands if Tevez does play he is certain to get booed. “If they [United fans] boo him I will join in,” joked Patrice Evra when questioned about the reception his great friend Tevez is likely to receive. Better warm up those vocal chords then Patrice.

2, CSKA Sofia vs Levski Sofia (A PFG, Bulgarian First Division) 18.00 GMT, Sunday 20th September 2009

Bulgaria’s ‘Eternal Derby’ takes place in Sofia this weekend as bitter enemies CSKA and Levski go head-to-head. CSKA and Levski Sofia are the two best supported and most successful clubs in Bulgaria, and after decades of fighting both for domestic honours on the pitch and top dog status in the stands, the rivalry has become highly intense and often violent.

Historically speaking, CSKA Sofia represent the army (their acronym stands for Central Sports Club of the Army) and play in red. The club has won 31 league titles and 23 domestic cups. Champions in 2007/2008, CSKA were usurped from their throne last season by none other than Levski of course, who pipped their rivals to the championship by just one point.

Levski, the blue half of Sofia, were founded in 1914 and are the only club in Bulgaria’s top flight never to have been relegated. Though they remain below CSKA’s championship haul with a mere 25 to their name, they can proudly boast 26 domestic cups. Clear to see then that these two pretty much boss Bulgarian football.

As one might imagine, the atmoshpheres at CSKA vs Levski matches are incredibly rowdy, and this will be no different. Due to large hooligan factions at both clubs security is often tight – 1/7th of the entire Bulgarian military was once utilised in order to restrain potentially violent clashes! And on a more sinister note, in 2001 two self-made bombs filled with nails and shrapnel were found by police prior to the derby and had to be disposed by a civil defence squad.

So if you happen to be in Sofia this weekend and are looking for some light-hearted entertainment or a quiet day out, avoid at all costs. Here’s a brief taster of what to expect:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ruQTRRJj4E]

It is to another big local derby we head now, this time in Oslo where Vålerenga host Lyn in the Norwegian Tippeligaen.

Though both clubs are tenants of Oslo’s 25,500 Ullevaal Stadion, that is about all the two rivals share, other than a rather deep disliking of one another of course. Lyn traditionally represent the upper and middle classes of Norway’s capital city while Vålerenga draw their fanbase from the city’s working class. Compared to other teams in Oslo however Lyn’s fanbase is actually pretty small and matches neither the scale nor the reputation of Vålerenga’s following. Nevertheless the game remains a hotly-contested derby.

In terms of recent success neither is particularly thriving right now. Stabæk are the current Norwegian champions, while both Vålerenga and Lyn sit uncomfortably in the lower half of the table. Lyn, with only 2 wins to their name in 24 league games, sit rock bottom.

Lyn’s unfortunate situation can in part be put down to crippling financial troubles. The club are struggling in the financial crisis and face bankruptcy at the end of the month unless they can find 17,000,000 Norwegian Kroner (around £1.8 million) to clear debts owed.

Vålerenga can at least call upon last season’s triumph when they won the Norwegian Cup, but Enga’s cup win and Lyn’s torrid fortunes count for nothing when it comes to derby day. In fact most Vålerenga supporters probably shiver in a cold sweat whenever this fixture comes around, as their club have not managed to beat Lyn in a derby for 28 years – since 1981. This unbeaten stretch has created the legend of the “derby ghost” that swoops in to save Lyn every time.

Of course, Lyn played in the 2nd division between 1982 and the mid-1990s (and, thus, did not play Vålerenga) so the record is slightly misleading, but it is a remarkable statistic nevertheless.

Will the derby ghost save lowly Lyn once again this weekend?

Which 3 games will you be watching this weekend? Let us know if you’ll be tuning into any of these derbies or discuss the weekend’s football here. Comments welcome.

Bulgaria, Bulgarian First Division, CSKA Sofia, English Premier League, Levski Sofia, Lyn Oslo, Manchester City, Manchester United, Norway, Norwegian Football, Three to See, Vålerenga IF