Sports weekend
The latest from football, rugby and women's handball
Eugen Nasta, 07.02.2025, 13:45
Football fans in Romania are in for an eventful week. On Thursday, the domestic championship’s 25th round drew to a close, while the 26th round is about to start on Friday. On Tuesday, FC Botoşani snatched a 2-nil away win against Gloria Buzau. Rapid Bucharest defeated Unirea Slobozia, 2-1, while Dinamo outclassed Oţelul Galaţi 1-0.
On Wednesday, CFR Cluj grabbed a 1-nil home win against Hermannstadt, Sibiu. Also on home turf, Universitatea Craiova defeated Universitatea Cluj, also 1-nil. On Thursday, UTA Arad grabbed a 1-nil away win against Poli Iasi. In Sfantu Gheorghe, in the west, the local team Sepsi defeated Farul Constanta, 1-nil. In Ploiesti, the match pitting the local side Petrolul against FCSB ended in a blank draw.
In the 26th round, on Friday, FC Botosani go against Dinamo Bucharest. Two fixtures are scheduled on Saturday. In Clinceni, Unirea Slobozia receive the visit of Universitatea Craiova, while in Galaţi, the local side Oţelul face Rapid Bucharest. On Sunday, in Sibiu, the local side Hermannstadt play Petrolul Ploiesti, Universitatea Cluj play a home game against Politehnica Iasi, while in Bucharest, FCSB are pitted against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe.
The 26th round’s last two games are scheduled on Monday, when Farul Constanţa play Gloria Buzău and UTA Arad take on CFR Cluj. Universitatea Cluj and Dinamo are at the top of the table, with 44 points each. CFR Cluj and FCSB follow suit, each with 43 points.
In rugby, this coming Sunday the Romanian national team plays an away a game against Belgium, in Mons, in a confrontation which is crucial for the qualification to the World Cup, scheduled in Australia in 2027. In the inaugural game as part of the present edition of Rugby Europe Championship, Europe’s second-tier competition after the Six Nations’ Tournament, Romania defeated Germany, 48 to 10.
Their next scheduled fixture is a match against Portugal on Saturday, February 17, in Botosani. The Romanian national team stands real chances to secure their straight qualification to the World Cup on condition they come in at the top of the table or as the runner-up team in their group.
In news from women’s handball, the coming weekend will see matches being played, counting towards the European competitions. On Saturday, in the Champions League’s group A, Gloria Bistriţa-Năsăud plays an away match against Krim Ljubljana, while on Sunday, CSM Bucharest plays a home match against Podravka Koprivnica. According to Group A ranking, CSM are 3rd-placed, while, Gloria Bistrita, 7th.
According to Group B ranking, Rapid Bucharest are 7th-placed. Their next scheduled fixture is this coming Sunday’s away game against German Ludwigsburg. In the EHF European League, on Saturday SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea play in Norway, against Sola, while Dunărea Brăila play Thüringer in Germany’s Bad Langensalza. SCM and Dunarea are at the top of the table in their groups.
