Sports weekend
The latest from tennis, water polo and football
Eugen Nasta, 08.03.2024, 19:16
We begin with news from tennis. In the first round as part of the US Indian Wells tournament on Friday, Romania’s Ana Bogdan plays Russian opponent Diana Șnaider. On Saturday, another Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the second round will play Sloane Stephens of the US. In the women’s double, the Romanian-Croatian pair made of Sorana Cîrstea and Donna Vekic will take on the Dutch-Brazilian pair made of Demi Schuurs and Luisa Stefani. Another Romanian, Monica Niculescu will be pairing up with Belgium’s Greet Minnen for their match against the all-American pair made of Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk.
In the first leg as part of the Euro Cup’s round of 16, the Romanian men’s water polo team CSA Steaua Bucharest on Friday play Greek opponents Panionios GSS Athens, away.
In ice hockey, in the Erste Liga’s play-off on Friday and Saturday, ACSH Gheorgheni play Hungarian side Ujpest. Two other Romanian teams, Corona Brașov and SC Miercurea Ciuc, take on Hungary’s DVTK and Budapest Akademia, respectively.
Matches counting towards the Romanian Football Super league’s 30th round are scheduled at the weekend. On Friday, CFR Cluj play FC Hermannstadt, FC Voluntari take on Universitatea Cluj, Petrolul Ploiești go against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, Dinamo București face UTA Arad, while FC Botoșani are pitted against Farul Constanța.
The Bucharest derby pitting Rapid against FCSB will be played on Saturday. Initially scheduled on the host team’s stadium, Giulesti, the match pitting the top-of-the-table team, FCSB, against the runner-up team, Rapid, has been relocated to the National Arena, in a bid to secure a larger audience. Rapid Fans have already purchased 38,000 tickets, while FCSB fans, 10,000, so the ongoing football season’s record high will most likely be met.
On Sunday, the local derby is scheduled, pitting FC Universitatea Craiova against CS Universitatea Craiova. On Monday, the 30th round’s last fixture will be played, pitting Otelul Galati against Politehnica Iasi. FCSB are at the top of the table, with 64 points. Following are Rapid Bucharest, with 52, and CFR Cluj, with 50 points.
