Neither team played continuously in the city of Ploiești since inception; Astra was founded in 1921 in Ploiești as Clubul Sportiv Astra-Română,[1] while Petrolul appeared three years later in the Romanian capital of Bucharest as Juventus, following a merger.

The rivalry only started in 1998, when Astra promoted for the first time to the Liga I under the ownership of businessman Ioan Niculae.

In September 2012, Astra relocated to Giurgiu after 91 years in Prahova County, but even after the move the rivalry continued between the governances of the two clubs, with Ioan Niculae claiming at one point that Petrolul does not have any honours after the events of 2003–2005.

[4] While Astra did not attract large crowds in neither Ploiești nor Giurgiu, Petrolul fans continued to consider their derby with Rapid București the most important one.

Astra additionally lost three cup finals in 2017, 2019, and 2021 on the Ilie Oană Stadium in Ploiești, the home ground of its former local opponent.