
A derby that has changed direction many times. Partizan and Tirana face off again, but this time the story comes with a special statistic: in the 213 encounters recorded in this balance, the Reds lead with 84 wins, while 65 matches have ended in a draw. But beyond the overall figures, this is a derby built on a series of dominance, counterattacks and rematches.
The capital derby has never been a one-sided affair. On the contrary, over the years Partizani and Tirana have gone from one side of dominance to the other, building streaks that were then interrupted precisely by their rival. The two teams have not started the season well, seeing themselves separated by only one point, in 6th and 7th place, the only statistic in favor of the white and blues.
The almost hostile, as well as friendly, rivalry was destined to grow from the first encounter, on March 30, 1947, when Partizan won 8-0 in what still remains the deepest result in the history of the derby. 38 years later, Tirana gave its spectacular response, triumphing 7-3 in 1985. Two results that show the special character of this rivalry. But perhaps more than individual results, history is told through streaks. From a 9-year unbeaten streak in the 50s, Partizan also went through a period of more than five years without losing to their big rivals, a streak that was spectacularly interrupted in February 2020, when the white and blue won 5-1. It was one of those victories that in a derby also take on the dimension of a rematch, proving once again that the capital's derby does not allow for permanent dominance.
The last derby victory was by Tirana, 2-1 on April 25, 2026, but you don't have to go far to find the success of the Bulls, who were imposed 2-0 on February 15, 2026. In total, there are 84 victories for Partizan, 63 for Tirana and 65 draws in 213 recorded encounters. Statistics that make the derby almost impossible to predict from history alone. Therefore, Partizan-Tirana is not simply a match for three points. It is another chapter in a history where series are made to be broken, records are to be challenged and every victory gives one team not only points, but also the right to temporarily claim the supremacy of the capital.