Caravaggio

Nova Veneza has one derby, and since 2021 it hasn't been played. The Clássico da Polenta pits Caravaggio against Grêmio Esportivo Metropolitano, named for the Italian dish that marks the city's heritage, and it defined the club's amateur years. When Caravaggio turned professional, Metropolitano stayed behind, and the fixture simply stopped. A friendlier rivalry has taken its place with Criciúma Esporte Clube, from the neighbouring city.

Professionalism came at a price: around R$ 400,000 paid to the Santa Catarina federation and the Brazilian federation in 2021 to enter the Campeonato Catarinense Série C. Caravaggio finished runners-up in that first professional season and went straight up to Série B. In 2024, they won Série B outright and reached the 2025 Série A, Santa Catarina's top flight.

The title itself came down to penalties. Facing Santa Catarina Clube, known as "Laranja Mecânica", Caravaggio drew the first leg at home 0–0. In Rio do Sul, Joanderson put the hosts ahead before Danielzinho equalised from the spot to force a shootout, which Caravaggio won 4–3. Both sides went up to Série A regardless, but neither carried the trophy.

Before any of that, Caravaggio spent decades as amateur royalty in the region. Known as "Azulão da Montanha" for their blue colours, they play at the Estádio da Montanha, which holds 1,000 people. It was in that amateur world, long before the professional fees and the Série A ticket, that the rivalry with Metropolitano was born.