The London blues have been at the tip of the chart since the early years of English football, even though they had little or no dominance. The West Londoners, however, grown to establish some of the fiercest rivalries in English football today.

Chelsea grabbed their first league title in the English first division. And beginning in the 2000s, when the club entered its golden years, winning the Champions League, more Premier League titles, the FA Cup, and FIFA Club World. Since then, the list of rivals has further strengthened.

Apart from the team’s competitiveness in English football, it has lots of neighbours in London who have established some form of rivalry historically. Interesting football takes a look at Chelsea’s biggest rivals.

Manchester United

United became one of the strongest forces in the English Premier League following their dominance from the late 90s to the early 2000s.

That being said, The Red devils were not the only ones competing for the top honours but had to contend with Chelsea, especially in the 2005/06 season when the two sides locked horns for the league title.

Another perfect scenario that fuelled the rivalry between Manchester United and Chelsea was in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final. The match ended in a 1-1 draw at the end of normal time and was taken to penalties that went the way of the team from Manchester.

Fast forward to the present decade, the rivalry between the two sides continues to exist, especially among the fans within and outside the stadium.

Arsenal (West vs North London)

In the clash between the Londoners, Chelsea is always locked in the bragging rights with Arsenal even though it is not considered a rivalry. It dates back to the 1930s.

The meeting between Chelsea and Arsenal is often called the clash of West and North London.

Read: Premier League clubs in London – where are the teams located?

Apart from this, there exists the battle for the pride of the city. Arsenal has dominated English football, whereas Chelsea has European and World glory. This fierce rivalry exists between the teams, especially among the fans.

Barcelona 

Chelsea has an intense rivalry with Barcelona which began in the early 2000s. The two sides met in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2000 in what eventually turned out to be one of the most dramatic encounters in the competition’s history.

Chelsea won the first leg 3-1 only to lose the reverse fixture with the same scoreline that forced the game to be decided on extra time and eventually went in favour of the Spaniards.

Chelsea and Barcelona have met in the Champions League several times, and the remainder of the initial meeting in the 2000s continues to linger.

Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur

The Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur meeting is another derby that will not go unnoticed. However, it does not generate as much noise as Arsenal. It is the second biggest derby in London, even though it does not gain a high priority.

That being said, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Chelsea are the three biggest clubs in London. Chelsea started winning laurels in the old era of English football, moving into the modern era. Spurs, on the other hand, had a successful period in the 20th century.

Read: Chelsea most expensive signings – Top 10 transfer fees paid

Leeds United

Chelsea’s rivalry with Leeds United dates back to the 1960s and often turns out to be controversial. However, in the present era, this situation appears to be non-existent, even though we might remember how it unfolded back then.

Other top Chelsea rivals

Chelsea vs Brentford

Chelsea vs Fulham

Chelsea vs Queens Park Rangers

Chelsea vs West Ham United