The Primvs derby, also known as The Only Derby (), is a Romanian football derby contested between Liga I clubs Rapid BucureÃÂti and Petrolul PloieÃÂti. 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.
Petrolul PloieÃÂti 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 BucureÃÂti, originally known as CFR BucureÃÂti, was established a year earlier, in 1923, by workers from the GriviÃÂa railway workshops.
The two clubs first met competitively on 1 November 1931, in the Bucharest regional championship, with the match ending in a 3âÂÂ3 draw.
Following World War II, both clubs underwent multiple name changes as a result of political reorganization under RomaniaâÂÂs communist regime. In 1952, Juventus, by then known as FlacÃÂra BucureÃÂti, was relocated approximately 60 kilometres north to PloieÃÂti. Rapid reverted to its traditional name in November 1957, while the PloieÃÂti-based club adopted the name Petrolul in December 1958.
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 1962âÂÂ63 season, Rapid defeated Petrolul 6âÂÂ1 at Stadionul âÂÂ23 AugustâÂÂ, only for Petrolul to respond the following season with a 6âÂÂ0 victory at the same venue. Both results remain among the most notable in the history of the fixture.
During the 1965âÂÂ66 season, the two clubs were again direct competitors for the championship. Coached by Constantin CernÃÂianu, Petrolul secured the league title, finishing ahead of Rapid. A decisive moment came in a 1âÂÂ0 home victory over Rapid, with Virgil Dridea scoring directly from a corner kick, a goal that proved crucial in PetrolulâÂÂs title-winning campaign.
Rapid claimed its first championship the following season, aided by a crucial 0âÂÂ0 draw away to Petrolul in PloieÃÂti, highlighted by a strong performance from goalkeeper RicàRÃÂducanu. The match is also remembered for the large number of Rapid supporters who traveled to PloieÃÂti, including folk singer Ioana Radu, some of whom reportedly pledged to walk back to Bucharest should Rapid secure the title.
The 1973âÂÂ74 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 MiÃÂu 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 1976âÂÂ77. Their return was guided by coach Valentin StÃÂnescu, who had previously led Rapid to its first league title in 1966âÂÂ67.
Between 1978 and 1982, the two clubs competed in the same series of the second division, with the 1981âÂÂ82 season proving particularly competitive. Petrolul and Rapid alternated at the top of the table, with a key match seeing Petrolul win 1âÂÂ0 at home through a late goal by Ion ÃÂtefÃÂnescu. The decisive encounter came in the spring of 1982 at Stadionul Steaua, watched by 35,000 spectators, where Rapid recorded a 5âÂÂ1 victory. Despite the loss, Petrolul finished two points ahead and secured promotion, while Rapid returned to the top flight a year later, again under StÃÂnescu.
Both clubs later re-established themselves in the first division, with Petrolul promoted in 1988âÂÂ89 and Rapid in 1989âÂÂ90. Each also returned to European competition after long absences: Petrolul faced Anderlecht in the 1990âÂÂ91 UEFA Cup, while Rapid played Internazionale Milano in the 1993âÂÂ94 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 Andreicuàbefore Rapid equalized via Iulian ChiriÃÂÃÂ, whose goal appeared to be offside. Although allegations of refereeing bias later circulated, these claims were never substantiated and remain part of supporter folklore.
The early 2000s saw both clubs competing in the top division until PetrolulâÂÂs relegation at the end of the 2003âÂÂ04 season. The decade represented one of the most successful periods in RapidâÂÂs history, as the club won the 2002âÂÂ03 league title, three Romanian Cups, three Romanian Supercups, and reached the quarter-finals of the 2005âÂÂ06 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 2010âÂÂ11. 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 1âÂÂ0. Rapid returned to Liga I in 2020âÂÂ21, followed by Petrolul a year later, restoring the Primvs derby to the top tier of Romanian football.
<small>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.</small>
Dates are in dd/mm/yyyy form
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Below is the list of players with the most goals scored in official games.