Derby Day: How Rivalry Matches Can Make or Break Your Season

At the start of every new career, the game assigns two rival clubs. These derbies are mechanically different from normal matches — every fan and income change is multiplied by 1.5, and there is a flat €20,000 commercial bonus regardless of the result.

That multiplier cuts both ways. A derby win can add 120 fans and 9 points of happiness in a single match, supercharging your stadium atmosphere and matchday revenue for weeks. A derby loss can do the same damage in reverse, sending fan mood into a spiral that empties the stands.

Treat derbies as must-win fixtures. Before a rivalry game, check your lineup fitness, set your strongest available eleven, and consider a more defensive tactic if you are the underdog — a draw in a derby is far better than a loss given the amplified consequences.

The €20,000 commercial bonus applies even away from home, so derbies are always lucrative. But the real money is in the fan momentum. A club riding a derby-winning streak sees attendance climb, atmosphere hit electric, and matchday income soar — a virtuous cycle that funds the next star signing.

Check the League page to see which clubs are your rivals (marked with an icon), then circle those fixture weeks in your mental calendar. Win your derbies and the rest of the season gets a lot easier.