RRI Sports Club

Football

Florin Orban, 24.08.2022, 13:45

Three Romanian football sides are
one step away from reaching the group stage of the Conference League European
competition. They will play on Thursday the second leg of the play-off matches,
and all three have to win in order to advance to the next stage. Of the three of them, CFR
Cluj have the greatest chances to pull this off. The Romanian champions CFR
will be playing at home against the Slovenian side NK Maribor, having drawn
nil-all in the away match. CFR have so far been able to score each time they
played at home, both in the domestic championship and in the European
competitions. If they reach the next stage, they will win the Conference League
bonus of 1 million euros, notes the Bucharest press, which would be very helpful
to CFR in ensuring a stable season given that the club has some serious
financial problems.

Universitatea Craiova, who are managed by the former Romanian international Mirel Rădoi, also drew in their
previous match, which they played against the Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva at home,
1-all. The Israeli vice-champions scored first, with Universitatea Craiova
equalising from a penalty kick. The Romanian side then missed several more
opportunities to score, something they have been struggling with for most of the
season. Their attack, however, has some of the most talented players of the
young generation, the international players Andrei Ivan and Jovan Markovici, so
fans have high expectations. If they reach the Conference League groups, it
would be a first for Universitatea Craiova, who haven’t been able to qualify
for any of the European competitions in their new format.

Finally, the Romanian
vice-champions FCSB will be facing the Norwegian side Viking away in Stavanger.
In the first leg in Bucharest, Viking won 2-1, so they are favourites in the
next match, especially as FCSB need to win by a two-goal difference. With their
new manager Nicolae Dică, however, FCSB have shown more determination and
ambition, so they shouldn’t be ruled out just yet. (CM)