The rivalry between SC Braga and Vitória SC is a clash that involves the two most representative clubs in the Minho region. It is usually called the Minho Derby.^[1][2]

More than a rivalry between two sports clubs, it is a rivalry between two historic and neighboring cities, which dates back before the foundation of the nationality, in a dispute between the power of the Archbishops of Braga and the Counts of the County of Portucalense.^[3] From then until today, there have been several demonstrations of rivalry between the two sides, thus justifying the fact that there is no railway line between the two cities (but rather two isolated branches that connect each city to Porto) or the controversy surrounding the creation of the University of Minho.^[4][5][6]

Braga's Estádio Municipal de Braga

Vitória's Estádio D. Afonso Henriques

Thus the rivalry between SC Braga and Vitória SC is more a reflection of a rivalry between the society of both cities.^[7] People from Braga and Guimarães do not like each other. The first are called "marroquinos (moroccans)", the others "espanhóis (Spanish)", and beyond the border is enemy land.^[8] However, just like the cities to which they belong, there is much more in common between them than what separates them:^[9][10]

• The official founding date of SC Braga dates back to 1921, while that of Vitória SC dates back to 1922.
• In 2024, Braga has around 29,000 members while Vitória has more than 36,000 members.
• They have managed to win titles (both in senior and youth teams) outside the sphere of the big three.
• In the 21st century, these are the clubs that, in sporting terms, cause the most difficulties for the so-called Big Three and that normally compete for the highest positions in the Portuguese League and in qualifying for European competitions.^[11]
• Apart from the so-called Big Three, they are the only clubs to maintain a considerable fan base, always with good attendances at home, which provide exciting games and an electrifying spectacle from the stands with great tifos and choreographies.^{[12][13][14][15]}
• Both teams always have good away trips, playing at their opponents' grounds as their home ground, as they have a numerical advantage in most Portuguese stadiums, due to the geographical proximity of the League clubs.^[16]

SC Braga and Vitória SC are recognised for the quality of their infrastructure and teams, but they are even better known for the rivalry between their fans and members, which is why they are placed in an intermediate position between the Big Three and the other clubs. In fact, the Minho derby is considered to be the 4th most popular match among fans across the country, right after the Classics, with the respective cities of Braga and Guimarães excited to watch this always scorching game.^[17] This derby has more than one hundred and fifty official matches.

In terms of home and away attendances, Vitória stands out in relation to Braga with a culture of support marked by localism and defense of the local club.^[18] However, on Braga's side, given the excellent sporting results obtained at the turn of the century, it has led to a change in the mentality of the biclub supporters in favour of a single club^[19] and consequently an increase in support at their stadium.^[20][21]

Data in this graph is from EFS Attendances^[22] and since 2009/10 from Liga Portugal.^[23]

At the beginning of its existence, the rivalry between Guimarães and Braga was more about the fight for the leadership of the Braga FA than sport, since most of the matches were played against teams from the same city. In Braga, SC Braga had several opponents such as Braga Sport Club (SCB's great rival at the time), Braga Football Club, Liberdade Foot-ball Club and Soarense. Vitória, on the other hand, exercised greater hegemony in the city of Guimarães, owing its origins to a football group founded in 1913 with two teams, the first being Sport Club Vimaranense and the second Foot-ball Grupo Vimaranense, which later became one.^[24][25]

The first regional championships were dominated by SC Braga and only in 1936/37, after 10 Bracarenses titles, did Vitorianos manage to impose themselves in the regional championship, witnessing a period of crisis for SC Braga. It was precisely during this period that the Portuguese Football Championship was created in 1934/35, and only from 1941/42 onwards did the AF Braga Champion qualify for the First Division (until then they qualified for the Second Division, with the First Division reserved for clubs from Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and Setúbal).^[6]

In 1946/47, the competitive framework of Portuguese football was reformulated, ending qualification based on regional championships, and introducing a logic of continuity between editions, and a system of promotions and relegations between divisions. The First Division was expanded to 14 teams, while the Second Division was reformulated, and a Third Division was created. In this way, Vitória SC was integrated into the I Division (as champion) while SC Braga was relegated to the II Division, no longer participating in the district championship on that date. SC Braga would go on to achieve promotion in the same season, retaking Minhoto.^[24]

Since that date, both clubs have only been absent from the First Division for 3 seasons: in 1956/57, from 1961/62 and 1963/64, from 1970/71 to 1974/75 (SC Braga's seasons in the Second Division) and from 1955/56 to 1957/58 and 2006/07 (Vitória's seasons in the second tier).It's worth noting that in 1947, after Braga's victory in Montijo, which earned them promotion to the First Division, the SCB delegation was honored in Famalicão, with Vitória represented by António Faria Martins, who said:

“As it was impossible for the caravan accompanying Sporting Clube de Braga to pass through Guimarães, Vitória wanted to join in this very deserved tribute through its illustrious President, Mr. Antero da Silva.”

— Evandro Lopes, The History of the Ball in Braga

Between 1970 and 1985, Vitória frequently managed to finish the championship among the top 6, while SC Braga managed to do so with some regularity between 1975 and 1985. Braga and Guimarães would become difficult trips for any national club. Between 1985 and 2003, both clubs had somewhat irregular careers, alternating top positions with more modest classifications. However, in the 80s and 90s, Vitória achieved several European qualifications (10 in total) and good campaigns in Europe, even reaching the Quarter Finals of the UEFA Cup in 1987.

The 21st century brings a change in the status quo. In 2006/07 Vitória was forced to play in the Second League (after 48 uninterrupted years in the top tier of Portuguese football), but in the following season and after an excellent campaign in the League (3rd place in a cohesive team led by Manuel Cajuda) it managed to get involved in the fight for the championship, achieving historic qualification for the 3rd qualifying round of the 2008/09 Champions League . He would be eliminated from the group stage after two controversial games against Basel. However, it was a unique achievement, and Vitória in the following years would not achieve better than 4th place (2016/17) and 5th place (2010/11, 2014/15, 2018/19 and in 2023/24). In the Portuguese Cup, Vitória won its biggest trophy (it had only won the Cândido Oliveira Super Cup in 1988 against FC Porto), after defeating Benfica 2-1 in the 2013 final at Jamor.

In Braga, the start of the new century is synonymous with António Salvador, the businessman who takes over the club's management and takes it from modest rankings to the big European nights. Since 2003, SC Braga has managed to finish the League in 2nd place (2009/10, where it fought until the last round for the title), 3rd place (2011/12 and 2019/20) and 7 times in 4th place. In the meantime, they managed to qualify for the Champions League group stage twice, reach the Europa League final and win the Intertoto Cup (the only international trophy won by a Portuguese club that is not part of the so-called big three). At national level, it also won the League Cup in 2013 and 2020 (both times won against FC Porto), and in 2015 and 2016 it reached the final of the Portuguese Cup, having lost the 2015 final against Sporting and won the 2016 final against FC Porto, both decided on penalties.

In recent years, SC Braga has therefore become the most stable and best performing club in Minho, also achieving excellent financial returns from the sale of assets, and as a result of good campaigns in UEFA competitions, where it has achieved great results.

In the 2020/21 season, Sporting de Braga won its 3rd Portuguese Cup, after defeating Benfica 2-0 at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra.

On the Guimarães side, and after the departure of the historic leader Pimenta Machado in 2004 (24 years at the Club, leading Vitória to good sporting and financial performances at that time), there have been successive changes in the presidency, and after several seasons with mediocre results at a sporting level, and terrible in the financial chapter, a campaign began under the presidency of Júlio Mendes, with a view to reducing the Club's liabilities (it went from 24 million euros at the end of 2012, to practically 12 million at the end of the 2014/15 season).

In 2016/17, Vitória Sport Club reached 4th place in the League, 9 years later ahead of rivals SC Braga in the league table.

In the Portuguese Cup, he reached his 7th final in the Queen of Portuguese Football Competition (third in the last 7 years). Strongly supported by its fans, Pedro Martins' team was defeated in Jamor by National Champion Benfica by 2-1, thus failing to bring the Cup to the Birth City.

In addition to football, the sporting rivalry between SC Braga and Vitória SC has been experienced mainly at youth level, where they always provide highly anticipated and emotional duels. However, when it comes to the derby matches in the top divisions of national competitions, they are less frequent, as each institution has chosen to invest in different disciplines while still being able to fight for titles.

SC Braga has invested more heavily in Futsal and Beach Soccer (extinct in 2024), while Vitória SC has invested in Volleyball, Basketball, Water Polo and Handball (reactivated in 2020), which are the most representative sports and also have the most fan support.^[26]

Counting the seasons since 1934/35 (Date of official creation of the First and Second Division National Championships).^{[27][28][29][30]}

Latest Update - June 15, 2024

List of official competitions, at regional, national and international level, common to both clubs throughout history, and the respective number of titles won by Vitória Sport Clube and Sporting Clube de Braga.

* Means competitions at lower levels and/or won by reserve teams.

List of official competitions, at regional and national level, common to both clubs throughout history, and the respective number of titles won by Vitória Sport Clube and Sporting Clube de Braga.

Last match considered: SC Braga vs Vitória SC, 11 May 2024, League Cup.

• Biggest home win : Vitória SC 9-2 SC Braga ( II Division Série Minho 1938/39 )
• Biggest away win : SC Braga 3-5 Vitória SC ( 1965/66 First Division ); SC Braga 2-4 Vitória SC ( 1999/00 First League ); ( 2002/03 First League )

• Biggest home win : SC Braga 5-0 Vitória SC ( 1959/60 First Division ); ( 1966/67 Portuguese Cup )
• Biggest away win : Vitória SC 0-5 SC Braga ( 1956/57 North Zone II Division ); ( 2017/18 First League )