5 instances where the league title was won at a major rival's stadium
Football is a beautiful game. But it’s not just a game when it comes to the rivalries between the clubs. The encounter between two rival clubs is often a fierce affair which is fought both on and off the pitch. Some of the derbies in European Football have a history which dates back to the 19th Century. Every year, these fixtures produce some of the most memorable moments of the season.
Most of the times these 2 games with the rival clubs make the difference in the title chase ,especially if you’re in Spain or Germany where the league is dominated by a couple of clubs. While beating the rival club to the league itself is an achievement, winning the league at your archrivals’ home is icing on the cake. Some major clubs in Europe have achieved this feat of sealing the league title at the home turf of their nemesis.
We take a look at such 5 instances where the title was clinched at a major rivals’ home. The list includes some of the most popular football clubs on the globe.
#1. Rangers win at Celtic Park,1998-1999
The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is maybe the most intense feud in the United Kingdom. The two clubs are the most successful clubs in Scottland, sharing 101 league titles between them. The rivalry even predates the Scottish Football league which was founded in 1890.
The two clubs met first time in 1888 in which Celtic won 5-2, first time Celtic played as an organised club. Adding the fuel to the rivalry is the fact that both clubs are based in Glasgow. The derby is known as “Old Firm Derby”
On 2nd May 1999, Rangers travelled to the Celtic Park hoping to clinch the title by winning the game. The clash between the two heavyweights of the Scottish Football turned out to be a stormy affair, to say the least. The game was later dubbed as “Shame Game”
Rangers won the game 3-0, thanks to a brace from Neil McCann and a goal from Jorg Albertz, winning the title at Celtic Park for the first time in more than 100 years. But the talking points of the game were hardly about the Football.
Referee Hugh Dallas was struck by a coin thrown from the stands and suffered a cut on his forehead. Seconds later after receiving the treatment , Dallas bravely awarded a Penalty to Rangers, sparking protests from the fans. Fans tried to invade the pitch twice while the game was being played. Three Celtic players were sent off in a game which was nothing less than a chaos. Over a 100 people were arrested around the stadium that day. The pitch invaders and the person who threw the coins received a life ban.