Dérbi das Beiras: Clube Desportivo de Tondela and Académico de Viseu

Words: Gil Pereira

Images: Gil Pereira

The clash between Clube Desportivo de Tondela and Académico de Viseu gets its name from the region where both clubs are located, the Beiras in central Portugal. Situated just 26km apart, the rivalry is as intense as it could be.

Last season was the first in seven years where both clubs played in the same division, in this case, the second league.

Tondela’s seven consecutive seasons in the Portuguese elite ended in 2021/22. Even with the relegation of the yellow and greens, they made history by reaching the Portuguese Cup final for the first time that year.

In addition, Académico de Viseu had a genuine opportunity to get promoted to the first division last season, something that hasn't occurred since the late 80s, but they fell short. The re-encounters were two draws for the league and a 4-1 victory for the club of the capital of the district, Académico de Viseu, during a league cup match.

©Gil Pereira/ Terrace Edition. Clube Desportivo de Tondela.

Both Tondela and Académico received fines due to their supporters' offensive chants directed at each other.

Another incident occurred before the third derby last season as Académico's supporters wrote provocative messages on the walls of Tondela's stadium, João Cardoso. Something that is still marked on the stadium.

Coming to this match, the sentiment from the fans of Tondela was revenge. The thirst to win against the rival was visible to everybody. Mainly because the Tondelenses haven't witnessed a derby win in the past 14 years.

Moreover, it is necessary to go to 1946 to find the second most recent win over the rival.

As soon as the referee blew the whistle for the first time, both sets of ultras didn't stop supporting their players until after the game ended. The first ones to celebrate were the visitors as the club from Viseu went ahead in the 23rd minute.

However, the home crowd erupted in the 41st minute as Costinha fired a missile outside of the box, levelling the match. Tondela scored again from the eleven-meter spot just five minutes later, much to the delight of their supporters, taking the lead into half-time.

During half-time, the Tondela u-14 team did an Olympic lap to celebrate their regional championship title from last year and received applause from everyone in the stadium, including Académico's fans. Surpassing Costinha's golazo as the moment of the game.

Académico de Viseu was striving to equalize the score during the second half, but wasn't very effective.

Nonetheless, an own goal in the 78th minute shattered Tondela fans' hopes of winning the derby after years of bitter results. The remaining minutes didn't offer much, as both teams looked happy with the idea of sharing a point. In the end, neither set of supporters left the stands satisfied with the result and the performance on the pitch.

Throughout the years, Académico and Tondela have embodied the feeling of being beirão, a person of the Beiras, and this derby showed what that is.

The passion and the pride of representing an entire region to, in the end, be better than your fellow neighbour.