Surviving The Superclásico Match

Argentinians are passionate about the sport of soccer and nowhere is this more evident than at the annual Superclásico. The weekend match between rival teams, the River Plates and Boca Juniors, is a raucous affair the U.K.’s Observer voted one of the Top 50 Sporting Things You Must Do Before You Die. Each year the stadium is packed full of 60,000 screaming spectators and getting a ticket to the game can be difficult.

The teams have been rivals since the early 20th century with the Boca Juniors symbolically representing the nation’s middle class while the River Plates rep for the upper-class fans. As you can imagine things tend to get a little testy once the ball starts rolling on the field, with opposing fans shouting local slurs at one another and occasionally throwing drinks. Firecrackers, flares and popcorn hit the air and flags of teams colors are dropped all around the stadium and fans cheer their favorites on.

Even outside of the stadium, Buenos Aires comes alive with corner streets filling with vendors and bars and shops packed to the teeth with locals and tourists watching the game. Admittedly, things can get pretty hectic but police are out in full force to help keep angry fans in line. The Super Bowl has nothing on the Superclásico when it comes to a country showing its devotion to its national pastime.