So much football to watch today but our pick is in Lower Saxony, Germany for Eintracht Braunschweig vs Hannover 96.

A rivalry that goes back to the middle ages, this is a hate so fierce an ex Schalke coach said the Dortmund vs Schalke derby was 'peanuts' in comparison (THREAD)

The origins of the hatred go back to the 17th century when the once prosperous town of Braunschweig (Brunswick in English) starts struggling as Hanover, a town 55 miles up the road starts gaining preferential treatment from the ruling Monarch of the time & gains 'kingdom' status

Fast forward a few hundred years & post WWII Germany is being restructured which sees the royal states of Hanover & Brunswick united into one federal state to be called 'Lower Saxony'. But this means only one of the the proud towns can become the capital. Hanover is chosen again.

Then in 1963, 16 sides are chosen for the 1st ever Bundesliga season. 3 spots are given to Northern clubs. HSV & Werder Bremen are chosen & the Lower Saxon clubs vie for the last spot. Despite their smaller ground & worse finances Braunschweig finally win a decision over Hanover

This history, mixed with the region's obsession with football (the first football match on German soil was played in Brunswick in 1874) means every time the two meet, sparks fly.

A third division match in 1998 needed riot police on the sidelines after multiple attempted pitch invasions from both sides.

Then there was the DFB Pokal meeting in 2003 where a pyro show ended up on the pitch & under Braunschweig midfielder Michel Mazingu Dinzey, leading to this iconic photo, voted ‘picture of the year’ by @Kicker magazine.

But by far the most intense meeting came in 2013 when the two met in the Bundesliga for the first time in 37 years. More police were deployed for the match than any derby in German history & the head of operations told the media “My wife wouldn’t go to the match for a 1000 euros”

The hostility enveloped both towns the entire week before the match as Hannover fans left Braunschweig themed gravestones across their rivals city and Braunschweig Ultras known as "Anti Gruppo Hannoi" let a pig tagged in a '96' scarf & graffiti run through Hanover.

Matchday saw trouble from the moment Braunschweig fans arrived at Hanover’s central station where they covered the tracks with pig heads and animal innards as Hanover fans clashed with police to get closer to their rivals. Inside the ground was just as lively.

Perhaps due to the pandemic or the snowy conditions in Germany, hostilities ahead of today's game have been a little more subdued, but that didn't stop Braunschweig Ultras reminding their team of the importance of the match, socially distanced of course.