Primvs derby


The Primvs derby, also known as The Only Derby, is a Romanian football derby contested between Liga I clubs Rapid București and Petrolul Ploiești. The name derives from the rivalry's status as one of the earliest in Romanian football, dating back to the interwar period, when both clubs were based in Bucharest and emerged as leading competitive sides in the country.
The rivalry is usually contested at least twice per season in league competition, and also extends to matches in the Cupa României. Throughout their histories, the two clubs have alternated between periods of success and decline, competing for domestic honors during their peak years and experiencing setbacks such as bankruptcy or relegation to the second division.
At various times, the clubs have also faced each other in promotion battles to return to the top flight, seeking to re-establish their status among Romania's leading teams.

History

Origins and early encounters

Petrolul Ploiești was founded in 1924 in Bucharest under the name Juventus, following the merger of Triumf and Romcomit, and initially played its home matches at Romcomit Stadium. Rapid București, originally known as CFR București, was established a year earlier, in 1923, by workers from the Grivița railway workshops.
The two clubs first met competitively on 1 November 1931, in the Bucharest regional championship, with the match ending in a 3–3 draw.
Following World War II, both clubs underwent multiple name changes as a result of political reorganization under Romania’s communist regime. In 1952, Juventus, by then known as Flacăra București, was relocated approximately 60 kilometres north to Ploiești. Rapid reverted to its traditional name in November 1957, while the Ploiești-based club adopted the name Petrolul in December 1958.

Championship battles of the 1960s

The rivalry reached one of its most prominent peaks during the 1960s, when both clubs regularly competed for the national title. The decade featured several high-scoring and unpredictable encounters. In the 1962–63 season, Rapid defeated Petrolul 6–1 at Stadionul „23 August”, only for Petrolul to respond the following season with a 6–0 victory at the same venue. Both results remain among the most notable in the history of the fixture.
During the 1965–66 season, the two clubs were again direct competitors for the championship. Coached by Constantin Cernăianu, Petrolul secured the league title, finishing ahead of Rapid. A decisive moment came in a 1–0 home victory over Rapid, with Virgil Dridea scoring directly from a corner kick, a goal that proved crucial in Petrolul’s title-winning campaign.
Rapid claimed its first championship the following season, aided by a crucial 0–0 draw away to Petrolul in Ploiești, highlighted by a strong performance from goalkeeper Rică Răducanu. The match is also remembered for the large number of Rapid supporters who traveled to Ploiești, including folk singer Ioana Radu, some of whom reportedly pledged to walk back to Bucharest should Rapid secure the title.

Relegations, promotion battles and a cup final

The 1973–74 season marked a low point for both clubs, as Rapid and Petrolul were relegated to the second tier. The downturn coincided with the retirement of several key players on both sides, including the Dridea brothers, Mocanu and Mișu Ionescu at Petrolul, and Nicky Dumitriu, Dan Coe, Puiu Ionescu, Lupescu and Greavu at Rapid.
Rapid returned to the top flight after one season, while Petrolul spent three years in the second division before earning promotion in 1976–77. Their return was guided by coach Valentin Stănescu, who had previously led Rapid to its first league title in 1966–67.
Between 1978 and 1982, the two clubs competed in the same series of the second division, with the 1981–82 season proving particularly competitive. Petrolul and Rapid alternated at the top of the table, with a key match seeing Petrolul win 1–0 at home through a late goal by Ion Ștefănescu. The decisive encounter came in the spring of 1982 at Stadionul Steaua, watched by 35,000 spectators, where Rapid recorded a 5–1 victory. Despite the loss, Petrolul finished two points ahead and secured promotion, while Rapid returned to the top flight a year later, again under Stănescu.
Both clubs later re-established themselves in the first division, with Petrolul promoted in 1988–89 and Rapid in 1989–90. Each also returned to European competition after long absences: Petrolul faced Anderlecht in the 1990–91 UEFA Cup, while Rapid played Internazionale Milano in the 1993–94 UEFA Cup.
A major milestone in the rivalry occurred in the final of the 1995 Cupa României, where Petrolul won their second Romanian Cup after defeating Rapid on penalties. The match proved controversial: Petrolul led through Claudiu Andreicuț before Rapid equalized via Iulian Chiriță, whose goal appeared to be offside. Although allegations of refereeing bias later circulated, these claims were never substantiated and remain part of supporter folklore.

Decline, bankruptcy and revival (2000s–present)

The early 2000s saw both clubs competing in the top division until Petrolul’s relegation at the end of the 2003–04 season. The decade represented one of the most successful periods in Rapid’s history, as the club won the 2002–03 league title, three Romanian Cups, three Romanian Supercups, and reached the quarter-finals of the 2005–06 UEFA Cup. During this period, encounters between the two clubs were largely dominated by Rapid.
Petrolul spent several seasons in the second division before returning to the top flight in 2010–11. The club enjoyed renewed success by winning the 2013 Romanian Cup. However, both teams soon encountered severe financial difficulties, culminating in declarations of bankruptcy in 2016, which temporarily halted the rivalry.
Both clubs were subsequently re-founded and began rebuilding. In October 2019, they met again in the second division, with Rapid winning 1–0. Rapid returned to Liga I in 2020–21, followed by Petrolul a year later, restoring the Primvs derby to the top tier of Romanian football.

Honours

Note: The Balkans Cup, the European Railways Cup and the Bangladesh President's Gold Cup were international tournaments not organized by UEFA, and therefore do not count towards official European records.

Statistics

Total matches
played		Rapid winsDrawsPetrolul winsRapid goalsPetrolul goals
Bucharest district championship211073
Divizia A9245212613293
Liga I1346397
Total 107502829148103
Cupa României139133616
Divizia B8305913
Liga II311112
Total 131633038194134

Official match results

Dates are in dd/mm/yyyy form

As a cross-town rivalry (1931–1951)


SeasonCompetitionNo.DateHome teamScoreAway TeamGoals Goals
1931–32Southern League - Bucharest district championship11 November 1931Juventus1=3–3CFRMelchior 18′; A. Bărbulescu ?′; Carianopol ?′V. Chiroiu 30′, 38′; Gebrovsky 71′
1931–32Southern League - Bucharest district championship217 April 1932CFR1=4–0JuventusV. Chiroiu ?′; Baciu ?′; T. Chiroiu ?′; Gebrovsky ?′—
1934–35Divizia A39 September 1934CFR1=2–1JuventusGeza Medve 11′; Țepeneag 35′Zăinescu 2′
1934–35Divizia A425 May 1935Juventus1=3–4CFRMelchior 25′; Palmer ?′; Cossini 55′ Brandabura 19′ ; Ströck III 23′; Șt. Barbu 46′; Gh. Georgescu 68′
1935–36Divizia A514 September 1935Juventus1=1–3CFRKorony 8′Cuedan 30′; L. Pal 38′; Gh. Georgescu 55′
1935–36Divizia A614 March 1936CFR1=4–1JuventusȘt. Barbu 1′; Boros 43′; I. Moldoveanu 53′; L. Pal 69′R. De Vittor 80′
1936–37Divizia A726 September 1936Juventus1=1–4CFRR. De Vittor 75′I. Bogdan 10′, 85′; Lengheriu 30′; Auer 82′
1936–37Divizia A821 May 1937Rapid1=4–2JuventusI. Bogdan 7′, 37′; Auer 32′; Baratky 65′Vaida 12′; Zăinescu 68′
1938–39Divizia A927 August 1938Rapid1=0–1Juventus—Prassler 58′
1938–39Divizia A1030 April 1939Juventus1=0–4Rapid—Cossini 30′; Baratky 40′, 72′; I. Moldoveanu 57′
1939–40Divizia A113 December 1939Juventus1=2–2RapidPrassler 62′, 89′ I. Bogdan 49′; Auer 63′
1939–40Divizia A126 June 1940Rapid1=4–1JuventusBaratky 7′; Auer 30′, 49′; I. Bogdan 46′Drăgan 70′
1940–41Cupa României QF1325 May 1941Rapid1=5–1JuventusBaratky 34′, 64′; I. Bogdan 50′, 70′; Ritter 57′Naciu 90′
1942–43Cupa României R161416 May 1943Rapid1=4–0JuventusFlorian Radu 41′, 53′, 71′, 88′—
1946–47Divizia A158 December 1946CFR1=0–1Juventus—Flamaropol 39′
1946–47Divizia A1615 June 1947Juventus1=5–1CFRTiti Popescu 8′, 78′; E. Iordache 20′, 31′; Flamaropol 22′Fl. Tănăsescu 70′
1947–48Divizia A174 September 1947Juventus1=3–2CFRFlamaropol 28′, 33′; E. Iordache 61′I. Lungu 46′; Șt. Filotti 71′
1947–48Divizia A1821 February 1948CFR1=2–0Distribuţia PetrolȘt. Filotti 41′; Fl. Tănăsescu 65′—
1948–49Divizia A1927 November 1948CFR1=1–1PetrolulI. Lungu 33′Titi Popescu 63′
1948–49Divizia A202 July 1949Petrolul1=4–1CFROană 16′, 67′; Titi Popescu 23′, 24′I. Lungu 70′
1950Divizia A2123 April 1950Locomotiva1=1–0PartizanulSmărăndescu 2′—
1950Divizia A2214 October 1950Partizanul1=1–0LocomotivaV. Neagu 67′—
1951Divizia A236 May 1951Flacăra1=0–2Locomotiva—A. Rădulescu 33′; I. Nicșa 76′
1951Divizia A2430 September 1951Locomotiva1=0–0Flacăra——

As an inter-city rivalry (1952-)


SeasonCompetitionNo.DateHome teamScoreAway TeamGoals Goals
1952Cupa României R16251 October 1952Locomotiva Grivița Roșie1=1–3FlacăraAndrovits 84′E. Iordache 24′; Titi Popescu 53′; Fătu 74′
1954Divizia A2616 May 1954Flacăra1=0–2Locomotiva Grivița Roșie—I. Olaru 84′; D. Călin 87′
1954Divizia A2724 October 1954Locomotiva Grivița Roșie1=3–0FlacăraZ. Pakay 5′; Șt. Filotti 51′; I. Csegezi 83′—
1955Cupa României R16282 November 1955Locomotiva1=2–1FlacăraȘt. Filotti 65′; D. Călin 83′Zaharia 88′
1956Divizia A2929 April 1956Flacăra1=1–1LocomotivaZaharia 60′I. Olaru 31′
1956Divizia A3023 September 1956Locomotiva1=1–2Energia FlacăraN. Georgescu 90′A. Munteanu 30′; Bădulescu-Bardatz 58′
1956Cupa României QF3125 November 1956Locomotiva1=3–1Energia FlacăraȘt. Filotti 57′; I. Olaru 100′, 104′Tabarcea 12′
1957–58Divizia A326 October 1957Locomotiva1=0–0Energia Flacăra——
1957–58Divizia A3318 May 1958Petrolul1=0–2Rapid—Gh. Ene 13′; N. Georgescu 27′
1958–59Divizia A349 November 1958Petrolul1=3–1RapidM. Dridea 4′, 58′; Zaharia 51′V. Copil 70′
1958–59Divizia A3524 May 1959Rapid1=0–0Petrolul——
1959–60Divizia A3615 November 1959Petrolul1=1–1RapidTabarcea 88′Ozon 37′
1959–60Divizia A3712 June 1960Rapid1=1–1PetrolulGh. Ene 25′Zaharia 90′
1960–61Divizia A3823 October 1960Rapid1=0–0Petrolul——
1960–61Divizia A397 May 1961Petrolul1=1–2RapidM. Dridea 85′Gh. Florea 49′ ; Ion C. Ion 65′
1960–61Cupa României R164030 August 1961Rapid1=3–1PetrolulI. Ionescu 13′, 25′; N. Georgescu 46′Fl. Voinea 23′
1961–62Divizia A4126 November 1961Petrolul1=3–1RapidM. Dridea 1′, 34′ ; V. Dridea 87′V. Kraus 63′
1961–62Divizia A422 July 1962Rapid1=2–2PetrolulN. Georgescu 6′; I. Ionescu 8′M. Dridea 22′, 47′
1962–63Divizia A4326 August 1962Petrolul1=3–2RapidTabarcea 14′; D. Munteanu 58′; P. Mureșan 86′Codreanu 49′; Ozon 88′
1962–63Divizia A4424 March 1963Rapid1=6–1PetrolulN. Georgescu 15′; I. Ionescu 23′, 40′ ; Dan Coe 72′; V. Kraus 80′, 88′V. Anghel 27′
1963–64Divizia A4522 September 1963Rapid1=0–6Petrolul—C. Moldoveanu 7′, 61′, 68′; M. Dridea 58′, 80′, 82′
1963–64Divizia A4612 April 1964Petrolul1=0–1Rapid—C. Dinu 78′
1964–65Divizia A4729 November 1964Petrolul1=0–1Rapid—V. Kraus 31′
1964–65Divizia A4811 April 1965Rapid1=1–0PetrolulI. Ionescu 67′ —
1965–66Divizia A4929 August 1965Rapid1=2–1PetrolulE. Dumitriu 14′; I. Ionescu 63′E. Frățilă 68′
1965–66Divizia A5031 March 1966Petrolul1=1–0RapidV. Dridea 52′—
1965–66Cupa României QF5122 June 1966Rapid1=2–0PetrolulI. Ionescu 42′; E. Dumitriu 56′—
1966–67Divizia A5219 February 1967Rapid1=3–1PetrolulJamaischi 46′; I. Ionescu 49′; E. Dumitriu 78′M. Mocanu 25′
1966–67Divizia A5311 June 1967Petrolul1=0–0Rapid——
1967–68Divizia A5422 October 1967Petrolul1=1–0RapidM. Dridea 77′ —
1967–68Divizia A558 May 1968Rapid1=4–0PetrolulE. Dumitriu 21′, 41′, 45′, 58′—
1968–69Divizia A5611 August 1968Rapid1=0–0Petrolul——
1968–69Divizia A579 March 1969Petrolul1=0–2Rapid—Dan Coe 15′; C. Dinu 88′
1969–70Divizia A583 December 1969Rapid1=1–0PetrolulAl. Neagu 79′—
1969–70Divizia A5915 March 1970Petrolul1=2-0RapidT. Cotigă 28′; Dincuță 46′—
1970–71Divizia A6013 September 1970Petrolul1=0–0Rapid——
1970–71Divizia A6127 March 1971Rapid1=1–0PetrolulAl. Neagu 36′—
1971–72Divizia A625 September 1971Rapid1=2–0PetrolulD. Ene 47′; Al. Neagu 48′—
1971–72Divizia A6326 March 1972Petrolul1=1-0RapidM. Moldovan 69′—
1972–73Divizia A6415 October 1972Rapid1=1–0PetrolulAl. Neagu 82′—
1972–73Divizia A6528 April 1973Petrolul1=1-0RapidI. Constantin 85′—
1973–74Divizia A6628 October 1973Petrolul1=1–1RapidV. Pârvu 55′Năsturescu 7′
1973–74Divizia A6712 May 1974Rapid1=2–0PetrolulN. Manea 48′, 88′—
1978–79Divizia B6810 December 1978Rapid1=0-1Petrolul—Simaciu 39′
1978–79Divizia B6924 June 1979Petrolul1=2-0RapidN. Toporan 44′; State 51′—
1979–80Divizia B702 September 1979Rapid1=1–0PetrolulF. Cojocaru 26′—
1979–80Divizia B7123 March 1980Petrolul1=3-0RapidSimaciu 11′; R. Mureșan 73′; N. Toporan 90′—
1980–81Divizia B722 November 1980Petrolul1=3-0RapidGălățeanu 1′; C. Pancu 14′; N. Toporan 42′—
1980–81Divizia B7324 May 1981Rapid1=3–2PetrolulȘt. Popa 7′; N. Manea 43′, 56′I. Cojocaru 70′; Cismaru 88′
1981–82Divizia B741 November 1981Petrolul1=1-0RapidI. Ștefănescu 78′—
1981–82Divizia B7523 May 1982Rapid1=5–1PetrolulN. Manea 4′, 84′; M. Damaschin 11′; I. Ion 40′; Șt. Popa 82′Cosarek 18′
1983–84Divizia A763 September 1983Petrolul1=3-1RapidSimaciu 10′; I. Toma 56′; Gălățeanu 90′P. Petre 49′
1983–84Divizia A7721 February 1984Rapid1=1–0PetrolulN. Manea 85′—
1985–86Divizia A7811 August 1985Rapid1=2–0PetrolulBacoș 68′; Mladin 89′—
1985–86Divizia A7911 March 1986Petrolul1=2-0RapidNuță 27′; I. Gușă 53′—
1986–87Divizia A8028 September 1986Petrolul1=3-0RapidC. Ene 32′; B. Mocanu 37′; C. Pancu 90′—
1986–87Divizia A8112 April 1987Rapid1=2–1PetrolulȚârban 58′, 80′ Hâncu 68′
1987–88Divizia A826 September 1987Rapid1=0-1Petrolul—Panait 85′
1987–88Divizia A8319 March 1988Petrolul1=0–0Rapid——
1990–91Divizia A8428 November 1990Rapid1=2–1PetrolulConstantinovici 24′; Drăgan 70′Catinca 16′
1990–91Divizia A8516 June 1991Petrolul1=1-0RapidC. Lazăr 23′—
1991–92Divizia A8624 November 1991Rapid1=2–0PetrolulGh. Dumitrașcu 19′, 57′—
1991–92Divizia A8724 May 1992FC Ploieşti1=0–0Rapid——
1992–93Divizia A8816 August 1992FC Ploieşti1=1–1RapidO. Grigore 15′I. Chiriță 44′
1992–93Divizia A8914 March 1993Rapid1=1–0PetrolulI. Chiriță 60′—
1993–94Divizia A906 November 1993Petrolul1=1-0RapidZmoleanu 67′—
1993–94Divizia A916 April 1994Rapid1=3–0PetrolulI. Chiriță 41′; Voinea 75′; Vlădoiu 85′—
1994–95Divizia A927 December 1994Rapid1=0–0Petrolul——
1994–95Divizia A9314 June 1995Petrolul1=2-0RapidPârlog 23′; O. Grigore 82′—
1994–95Cupa României9421 June 1995PetrolulRapidAndreicuț 82′I. Chiriță 87′
1995–96Divizia A958 November 1995Rapid1=1–0PetrolulConstantinovici 40′—
1995–96Divizia A9613 April 1996Petrolul1=2-1RapidO. Grigore 33′, 37′O. Grigore 73′
1996–97Divizia A9726 October 1996Rapid1=0-1Petrolul—Toader 7′
1996–97Divizia A983 May 1997Petrolul1=1–1RapidO. Grigore 89′ Târțău 45′
1997–98Divizia A9930 August 1997Rapid1=2–1PetrolulButoiu 7′; Târțău 90′ Zmoleanu 23′
1997–98Divizia A1007 March 1998Petrolul1=1–1RapidToader 21′Iftodi 50′
1998–99Divizia A10120 September 1998Rapid1=2–1PetrolulD. Pancu 16′; Șumudică 89′Todoran 81′
1998–99Divizia A10217 April 1999Petrolul1=2–2RapidN. Constantin 31′; Onuț 44′Nae Stanciu 53′; Ganea 67′
1999–00Divizia A10318 September 1999Rapid1=2–0PetrolulMutică 64′; Sg. Radu 77′—
1999–00Divizia A1041 April 2000Petrolul1=4-2RapidO. Grigore 19′; Costescu 36′; Irimescu 41′; Pancovici 89′Lupu 45′ ; Schumacher 60′
2000–01Divizia A1056 August 2000Rapid1=3–1PetrolulMăldărășanu 14′; Schumacher 55′; Frăsineanu 60′Orlando 36′
2000–01Divizia A10610 March 2001Petrolul1=1–2RapidPârvu 40′C. Barbu 88′; Burke 90′
2001–02Divizia A1073 November 2001Rapid1=4–1PetrolulȘumudică 55′, 58′; Raț 67′; Bogdanovic 81′Irimescu 83′
2001–02Divizia A10818 May 2002Petrolul1=0–2Rapid—Ilyés 44′; R. Niță 75′
2003–04Divizia A1092 November 2003Rapid1=2–0PetrolulS. Ilie 39′, 68′—
2003–04Divizia A11012 May 2004Petrolul1=0–2Rapid—Ilyés 26′; I. Stancu 32′
2005–06Cupa României SF11122 March 2006Rapid1=4–1PetrolulD. Pancu 37′; D. Niculae 65′; V. Moldovan 67′; Burdujan 73′Hadnagy
2005–06Cupa României SF11226 April 2006Petrolul1=3–3RapidStepanovs 29′; Donets 42′; L. Marinescu 87′ D. Niculae 22′; M. Constantin 48′; D. Pancu 53′
2008–09Cupa României R3211316 October 2008Rapid1=3–2PetrolulĐalović 6′; Césinha 80′, 118′Muțiu 22′; Tincu 82′
2010–11Cupa României R3211421 September 2010Rapid1=5–0PetrolulSburlea 15′; Grigorie 17′; António 19′, 51′; Césinha 81′—
2011–12Liga I11513 August 2011Petrolul1=0–1Rapid—D. Pancu 87′
2011–12Liga I11611 March 2012Rapid1=2–0PetrolulA. Ioniță I 27′; Surdu 53′—
2012–13Liga I11718 August 2012Petrolul1=0–0Rapid——
2012–13Liga I1189 March 2013Rapid1=0–0Petrolul——
2013–14Cupa României R1611931 October 2013Rapid1=0–2Petrolul—Doré 66′; Romário Pires 72′
2014–15Liga I12016 August 2014Petrolul1=0–0Rapid——
2014–15Liga I12113 March 2015Rapid1=1–1PetrolulSăpunaru 60′Teixeira 64′
2019–20Liga II12216 October 2019Rapid1=1–0PetrolulB. Manole 80′—
2019–20Liga II12311 July 2020Petrolul1=0–0Rapid——
2020–21Liga II1246 November 2020Petrolul1=2–0RapidBuhăescu 7′; Botic 90+1′—
2022–23Liga I12513 August 2022Petrolul1=1–0RapidGrozav 23′—
2022–23Liga I12614 December 2022Rapid1=3–1PetrolulDugandžić 9′, 73′; Pănoiu 90+4′Grozav 61′
2023–24Liga I12713 August 2023Rapid1=0–2Petrolul—Oaidă 62′ ; Borja Valle 90+5′
2023–24Liga I12815 December 2023Petrolul1=0–0Rapid——
2024–25Liga I12929 July 2024Petrolul1=1–0RapidBerisha 31′—
2024–25Liga I13030 November 2024Rapid1=1–1PetrolulDumitriu 54′ Tudorie 62′
2025–26Liga I13127 September 2025Petrolul1=0–1Rapid—Pașcanu 24′
2025–26Liga I1324 February 2025Rapid1=TBDPetrolul

Top scorers

Below is the list of players with the most goals scored in official games.
RankPlayerTeam Goals
1