opponent vs opposite side

opponent

noun
  • One who opposes another physically (in a fight, sport, game, or competition). 

  • The participant who opens an academic debate by putting forward objections to a theological or philosophical thesis. 

  • One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something. 

  • One who opposes another in words (in a dispute, argument or controversy). 

  • One who is opposed or objects (to a policy, course of action or set of ideas). 

opposite side

noun
  • A side, party (e.g. a team or armed force) seen as adversary, enemy etc. opposite one (or more) other(s), as in a battle or team sports competition. 

How often have the words opponent and opposite side occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )