You can’t say Japanese Grand Prix without thinking of Senna vs Prost.

Two years in a row they took each other out to win the title Prost first, Senna second.

Let’s focus on the first incident, the culmination of a rivalry that had been boiling for the past two seasons.

Alin Prost and Ayrton Senna were the two best drivers on the grid up to that point in time when they walked into the paddock at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Brazilian Senna had won six races to the Frenchman Prost’s four building up to the Japanese Grand Prix, but it was Prost’s consistency throughout the season that earned him enough points to lead.

Alain Prost already won two world titles in 1985 and 1986, Senna was the reigning champion.

Senna had joined McLaren in 1988 from Lotus and whilst he was not designated the “number one” driver he quickly established himself as an equal to Prost.

McLaren had a powerhouse duo and dominated that season only dropping one race win all year.

Senna once again won pole, his speciality for the year, with Prost second closing out the front two spots on the grid.

Prost however got the jump ahead of Senna after the lights went out gaining the lead.

Senna chased and chased throughout the race not giving up whilst Prost defended valiantly as the two proved why they were the best drivers with the best car.

Then on lap 46 it all came to a head.

Senna finally managed to overtake Prost, but Prost turned into Senna at a close angle, too close some might argue forcing both drivers off.

Prost was out of the race and his championship lead was under serious threat when Senna continued.

The Brazilian would win the race however, he was subsequently disqualified for illegally re-entering the race.

The win went to Italian Alessandro Nannini of Benetton, the only win of his career.

McLaren contested the result, but the FIA stood firm with some even claiming that they showed favouritism towards Alain Prost.

Prost would eventually be crowned champion of the World for the third time in his career much to the anger of Senna, who a year later got his revenge at Suzuka in turn one. 

South Africa’s rich rugby history has not always been straightforward and up until hosting the World Cup in 1995 always held up against the backdrop of apartheid and institutional racism.

Despite this their first-ever tournament they cruised to the finals with a wicked team consisting of François Pienaar and André Joubert whilst the All-Blacks had Jonah Lomu, the all-powerful obliterator of defences.

New Zealand came into the game having scored 315 points equally cruising through to the final.

The game was played in front of a full crowd at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

New Zealand took an early lead with a penalty by Andrew Mehrtens, New Zealand’s ever-reliable number ten.

The game was played at an exceptionally fast pace and equally in an exceptionally tough manner, as the Springboks and All-Blacks do.

Joel Stransky proved to be a match for Mehrtens and South Africa would draw level.

The kicking match continued with South Africa leading 9-6 at halftime.

New Zealand would level with Mehrtens scoring a drop goal in the second half and the game would stay that way, heading into extra-time.

New Zealand retook the lead with a remarkable kick by Mehrtens from just inside the halfway line.

It looked set for an All-Blacks party when yet another penalty was given away.

Joel Stransky duly levelled the scores at 12 all, with only a few minutes left.

Stransky then used a huge kick to score the winning drop goal.

South Africa erupted; Nelson Mandela gave the trophy to François Pienaar who hoisted it aloft for one of the greatest moments in sport.

South Africa and New Zealand will be looking for their fourth World title each this year. 

Le Classique as it is known in France is the rivalry between the club from the capital against the club from the provinces.

The upstarts with money and culture of the French capital vs France’s version of the culture club with eight league titles (at the time of this match), a European title and the biggest fanbase in all of France.

Ever since league titles were determined by this game in the 80’s the clubs have never looked back and their fans neither.

A traditionally volatile atmosphere rocks either the Parc des Princes in Paris or the Velodrome in Marseille.

This one was no different with flares adorning every corner of the stadium, the teams walked out looking to win for their respective aspirations.

Marseille looking for a first title since 1992 (1993 had been stripped from them for match-fixing) and PSG was looking to get into Europe after a couple of seasons flirting with relegation.

Boudewijn Zenden scored the opener powering through the Parisian defence and shooting past Mikael Landreau.

Whilst PSG may not have had the worldwide reputation it garnered under the Qatari ownership years later their team still consisted of excellent players.

The likes of Claude Makelele, Jérôme Rothen, Ludovic Giuly and Péguy Luyindula all graced the club at this time making them one of the best in the league.

PSG would equalise a through ball by Luyindula found Giuly in acres of space and the equaliser.

Zoumana Camara was sent off for a tackle as the last man. The ensuing free kick was saved by Landreau only for it to land square on Bakary Kone’s knee bouncing in for the Marseille lead.

A few minutes later Albanian Lorik Cana, a former PSG player, shot from outside the area creeping inside the net to make it 3-1.

Marseille returned south with all three points. It would not be enough as Bordeaux proved too strong and were worthy champions.

Didier Deschamps would not lose hope, next season he finally ended Marseille’s long wait for a title.

PSG Did not make Europe this season, and this defeat put Paul le Guen in a tough position, not long after things would change drastically in French football.

What a derby match this was.

Best remembered by a stunning strike by David Bentley the last few minutes were just chaotic and worth remembering as well.

Tottenham had started the season poorly; they were rooted to the bottom of the table with Harry Redknapp brought in to stop the bleeding.

For Arsenal fans, this was a cause for celebration because Arsenal for the past decade had been stalwart winning two league titles including the famous Invincibles, graced with beautiful football and reached a Champions League final.

The game started well for the Spurs Bentley touching the ball in mid-air and then volleying it over Manuel Almunia to give them the lead.

Arsenal would respond with a header by Mikael Sylvestre completely dumbfounding keeper Heurelho Gomes.

Almost the same exact goal gave Arsenal the lead in the second half this time it was William Gallas with the header.

Arsenal went 3-1 up with Emmanuel Adebayor scoring a toe poke after Samir Nasri did the hard work of looping it over the keeper.

Darren Bent pulled one back for the Spurs with a tap-in from an Almunia mistake after Huddlestone’s shot was saved.

However, Robin Van Persie scored to make it 4-2 and Arsenal seemed like worthy winners compounding Spurs’ misery.

Then came the two goals that shook things up, Jermaine Jenas curved one in the last minute and in stoppage time Luka Modric seemed to have done the same only for Almunia to tip it onto the post and Aaron Lennon to grab the tap in on the rebound.

Tottenham bounced back from this early form to finish eighth whilst Arsenal would miss out on the league title by 18 points.

Atletico have so rarely beaten Real in the last 20 years that it will be surprising to find that this was just their first win at home in the league this century.

Their last came in 1998, they have won home games in the Copa Del Rey or the Super Cup but not in the league.

Their record is dismal against their rivals so of course this was a moment to savour for all fans of Atletico.

This season they would meet eight times: twice in the league, twice in the Super Cup, twice in Copa Del Rey and twice in the Champions League.

Atletico would win three out of four at home, never conceding a single goal against their arch-rivals, but this win was sweeter than all because it broke a very annoying curse.

Atletico were all over their rivals and Tiago got the first goal with a shot that slipped under Iker Casillas in goal.

Four minutes later Atletico doubled their lead inside 20 minutes with a beautiful overhead kick by Saul Niguez the Real defence all over the place and unable to deal with the relentless play by Atletico.

The third came in the second half as the Estadio Vicente Calderon burst, Antoine Griezmann at the back post after Saul headered Arda Turan’s ball back into the mix.

Atletico buried Los Blancos once and for all in the 89^th minute, Mario Mandzukic’s low header completely putting the game to bed.

A win, humiliation for their rivals nothing better for the reigning Spanish champions.

Atletico would finish third a long way off their rivals but Real would lose the title by two points to their other arch-nemesis Barcelona.