Sports weekend

The latest from women's handball, women's volleyball and football

Florin Orban and Eugen Nasta, 29.03.2024, 09:24

The derby of the 20th round as part of the National women’s handball league on Thursday saw CSM Bucharest being held to a 35-all draw by Dunărea Brăila, at home. CSM’s top scorer was Cristina Neagu, with 9 goals scored. Also 9 goals scored guest team Dunarea Braila’s most efficient handballer, the Brazilian Francielle Gomes da Rocha. With 55 points, CSM Bucharest are still at the top of the table. Rapid Bucharest and Gloria Bistriţa, follow suit, each with 48 points. However, Gloria Bistrita have a pending game. With 44 points, Dunarea Braila are 4th placed.

The complete draw of Romania’s women’s volleyball championship semi-finals will be known on Saturday. In the competition’s last quarterfinal confrontation, Rapid Bucharest are pitted against CSM Bucharest, on the former team’s court. In their first leg at home, Rapid defeated CSM, 3-2, while in the return leg CSM won, 3-nil. CSM Târgovişte, CSO Voluntari and Volei Alba Blaj have advanced to the semifinals. The quarterfinals have been played according to the best-in-three-games system.

In the Romanian football Super league, in Group 1 on Friday, Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe play CFR Cluj. On Saturday, Universitatea Craiova play a home game against Rapid Bucharest. Universitatea Craiova and Rapid Bucharest have a similar number of points, being 2nd and 3rd-placed, respectively. We recall that in the previous round, Universitatea Craiova grabbed an away win against Cluj, while Rapid Bucharest were defeated by Farul Constanta on home turf. On Sunday in Ovidiu, defending champions Farul Constanta take on current leader FCSB. The latter team are at the top of the table, being seven points clear of the other teams.

In Group 2 on Friday, FC Voluntari face FC Hermannstadt Sibiu. On Saturday, Poli Iaşi play an away fixture against FC Botoşani, while UTA Arad play Universitatea Cluj, also away from home. On Sunday, FC U Craiova play a home match against Oţelul Galaţi. Also in Group 2 on Monday, Dinamo Bucharest play a home game against Petrolul from Ploiesti. According to Group 2 rankings, U Cluj are best-placed, with 24 points. FC Hermannstadt and UTA follow, with 23 points each. FC Botosani are 10th-placed, with 11 points, while FC Voluntari are 9th-placed, with 14. We recall 9th and 10th-placed teams are relegated to the second league.