The Canary Islands derby is the name given to football matches contesting Spanish sides UD Las Palmas and C.D. Tenerife, who are regarded as the toptwo sides in the Canary Islands. The Canary Islands derby is a match with a lot of rivalry and intensity that has always faced the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria and its inhabitants. According to World Soccer Magazine, the Canary Islands derby is on the list of the 50 greatest rivalries in the world and is considered one of the most important and spectacular derbies in Spain.
History
The two teams are on completely different islands, but have been the Canary Islands' top two sides virtually since their establishment. Both sides have endured spells in Spain's top division, La Liga. Whilst UD Las Palmas' greatest successes came in the 1960s and 70s, in a period when they came runners-up in La Liga just behind Real Madrid and in the Spanish Cup, competing in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969, and UEFA cup two times in 1972 and 1977. Tenerife's greatest successes came in the 1990s, if not as prestigious. They recorded their best ever league finish in 1992-93 and in 1995-96, in which they finished 5th. In fact, in 1996-97 they reached the semi finals of the UEFA Cup, losing to eventual winners Schalke 04.
UD Las Palmas play their home games at the Estadio Gran Canaria which holds 31,250 seats. Located in the island's capital city of Las Palmas, the stadium is the biggest in the Canary Islands. In 2007 it hosted a Spain international friendly against Northern Ireland, which Spain won 1-0 with a goal from Xavi.
There have been 61 official Canary Island derbies. 24 were drawn, UD Las Palmas won 22, and CD Tenerife won 15.
Las Palmas stats
Wins: 22
Draws: 24
Defeats: 15
Goals scored: 72
Goals conceded: 61
Tenerife stats
Wins: 15
Draws: 24
Defeats: 22
Goals scored: 61
Goals conceded: 72
All-time results
League
Copa de Canarias
The Copa de Canarias is a friendly tournament played between Las Palmas and Tenerife since 2011 in a double-leg format. Since 2012, the tournament is sponsored by Mahou and receives the name of Copa Mahou Canarias. In 2018, it was approved to reduce the tournament to a single game.
