Dinamo București vs Steaua București: 5 Classic Clashes Between Romania's Two Giants

Romania's Eternal Derby is part of 90min's 50 Biggest Derbies in the World Series

There are a handful of countries across Europe which use 'the Eternal Derby' as the title for their biggest grudge matches, but Romania's instalment is arguably the biggest.

When former Champions League winners Steaua București - who are known as FCSB today - face their younger, city rivals Dinamo, Romania's capital comes to a standstill.

But it's not always just what happens on the pitch which can make this fixture a classic clash...

Dinamo 6-4 Steaua (May 1, 1990)

There are lots of different things which can make up a classic derby match. But sometimes, it's just the ability to get the win in a cup final which makes the game memorable, regardless of the scoreline.

But in 1990, Dinamo fans had both. They didn't just win the Cupa României, but they came out on top in a thrilling 10-goal final against their bitter rivals - which is the most amount of goals ever scored in this fixture.

Florin Raducioiu scored a hat trick for Dinamo, and even though Steaua were able to threaten a comeback in the second half, it was Mircea Lucescu's side who came out on top.

Steaua 3-1 Dinamo (May 10, 1997)

It might seem strange that Dinamo ultras still glorify a 3-1 defeat to their bitter rivals, but that's because they plotted to set fire to the south stand of Steaua's stadium - and they pulled it off too.

It will be seen as a hooligan tactic for fans elsewhere, but Dinamo fan see the incident as the 'most important ultras phenomenon in Romania'.

Dinamo 3-2 Steaua (July 31, 2005)

Since the Iron Curtain fell, one player has enjoyed playing in the Eternal Derby more than anyone else.

Dinamo's Claudiu Niculescu is the top scorer in the fixture's recent history and his most important goal came back in 2005, netting a late winner in the Supercupa României final.

Romania's supercup has only ever been played between Bucharest's two biggest clubs on two occasions, but Dinamo have come out on top both times.

Steaua 2-1 Dinamo (April 2, 2017)

In 176 instalments of the Eternal Derby, Dinamo have won 60, compared to Steaua's 59.

But one of Steaua's worst runs in the derby came between 2015 and 2017, when the club failed to win 10 consecutive matches against Dinamo.

That run finally came to an end in April 2017, where a late goal from Fernando Boldrin gave FCSB the win. But that wasn't where the excitement finished. The game started to turn ugly and both sides finished with 10 men on the pitch.

Neither side went on to win the league title that season, as Viitorul Constanța picked up their only piece of silverware in Romania's top-flight.

Steaua 3-3 Dinamo (July 29, 2018)

The Eternal Derby doesn't decide a title these days. Neither Steaua or Dinamo have won their domestic league since 2015, but it's still a game which, for obvious reasons, neither side wants to lose.

That was on display back in the 2018/19 season, when Dinamo had to come from behind three times to rescue a point at the National Arena.

Both sides went into half-time with the score tied at 1-1, but FCSB substitute Florinel Coman scored the pick of the bunch when he found the back of the net directly from a corner.

Their lead only lasted for six minutes, as Dinamo captain Dan Nistor netted another equaliser, and although Coman scored a second later in the half, Mihai Popescu was the heo of the hour as he scored in the 89th minute to ensure things ended all square.