Cracking cup rivalries to set the Sydney Derby mood

The FFA Cup's first Sydney Derby is just around the corner and to help get in the mood we're looking abroad for inspiration.

Derby dates help make the game great and there's always an extra edge when all-or-nothing knockout stakes are attached.

From an impossibly long list, we've picked out just three of the more recent and memorable derby matches contested in cup competitions throughout the world.

We wouldn't mind something along these lines come Saturday night in Penrith!

BRIDGE: Wanderers fans will have Penrith red, black and rocking
UNFORGETTABLE: Three of the best Sydney derbies

2014 UEFA Champions League final

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid took their long-running David and Goliath battle to Europe's grandest stage in 2014.

It was the first time two clubs from the same city had contested the Champions League final, a landmark moment in the competition's 59th season.

The match ultimately triggered a new era of Real dominance, though not without extreme duress.

Atleti went ahead through Diego Godin and held the lead deep into second-half stoppage time.

But their greatest glory was snatched away seconds from the end as Sergio Ramos dramatically headed home Luka Modric's corner to force extra-time.

Atleti simply never recovered, shipping three more goals in the additional 30 minutes to suffer a somewhat unjust 4-1 defeat.

Amazingly, fierce Madrid rivals would do it all again just two years later, as Real triumphed on penalties for the first of their three-peat.

1991 FA Cup semi-finals: Tottenham v Arsenal

The first ever FA Cup semi-final to be played at Wembley Stadium turned out to be a cracker. 

North London rivals Tottenham and Arsenal squared off for a place on the biggest day in the English footballing calendar and served up some brilliant entertainment.

An unbelievable free-kick from the magician Paul Gascoigne got the party started in the fifth minute, and he wasn't the only star on the scoresheet.

England great Gary Lineker quickly doubled Tottenham's advantage, before long-serving Arsenal striker Alan Smith pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.

It was to be Spurs' day, though, as that man Lineker rifled a shot through David Seaman's hands to seal a 3-1 victory in the 78th minute.

Tottenham went on to lift the trophy for the eighth time following a 2-1 defeat of Nottingham Forest in the final.

2004 Copa Libertadores semi-finals: Boca Juniors v River Plate

The Superclasico between bitter Argentine rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate is considered by many to be the greatest derby of them all.

Their 2004 clash in the final four of the Copa Libertadores was an insight into why.

Boca edged the first leg 1-0 to take a slim advantage into what turned out to be an absolute rollercoaster.

Lucho Gonzalez fired River to parity soon after half-time and they appeared in strong position to advance following Fabian Vargas' sending off for a second bookable offence.

However, Carlos Tevez unleashed chaos when he restored the visitors' aggregate advantage two minutes from the end, only to himself receive a red card for inciting the home crowd by performing a chicken dance.

It didn't seem such a bizarre decision in view of the skirmishes erupting all over the pitch.

There was still time for another twist in the instant classic - Cristian Nasuti sent the River fans into ecstasy by volleying into the bottom corner in the 94th minute, forcing extra-time.

A nine-man Boca somehow clung on to reach penalties and their reward was a shootout victory for the ages, Roberto Abbondanzieri the hero with a single match-winning save.

Carlos Tevez