Romania - Liga 1 - Astra Ploiesti vs Victoria Branesti

Game starts at 14:00 CET

Astra Ploiesti

 Coach Tibor Selymes declared that this friday's game, with Victoria Branesti, it's one of 6 points and in case of a victory his team will escape relegation. "It's a six point game. In case we will obtain victory, 95% we escape relegation. Branesti it's a similar team to ours, well prepared, but Astra has bigger values in the team. The adversaries will come to get at least a draw, because, if not it will be hard to save themselves".

Selymes also said that owner Ioan Niculae came into the locker at half time in the game with Craiova: "At half time, Niculae was in the locker and spoke with the guys for two minutes. They told them that if they don't play based on their value he will not come to their games anymore. The team understood and played something else".

Tibor Selymes has 20 players in the team, besides injured Gussev, the only absence being that of Nogo, who is in Italy for surgery. "I like that i have players to choose from, hope i will be inspired on the field to send the best players. I think Astra is on an upward movement. Our problem is the mentality. We still have some players that are easy to please, we don't have the mentality of a big team."

Astra Ploiesti managed to convince defender Amer Megahed from Egypt to sign with a team taking him although teams from Bucharest wanted the player also. The 28 years old player was wanted in this winter by Rapid Bucuresti, but didn't manage to come to an agreement with them. Amir Megahed has 5 selections at the national team of Egypt and scored one goal.

Probable team: C.Grigore - M??el, Mihalache, L.Goian, Maranhão - Croitoru, Seto - Str?til?, N'Doye, Budescu – Miranda; Coach: Tibor Selymes; Injured: Gussev, Nogo; Suspended: -; Reserves: Miron, Oprsal, Tigoianu, ?ig?na?u, Stan, Paulinho, Fatai

LAST GAME (Universitatea Craiova - Astra Ploie?ti 1-1)
Goals scored: 1-0 Danijel Suboti? (6), 1-1 Alexandru M??el (70)
U.Craiova: 21. Lung - 18. D?n?nae, 4. Zoro, 6. Ciuc? (8. Ologu '5), 11. W. Lopez - 28. Gângioveanu, 5. D. Stoica, 3. D. Lopes - 9. M. Costea (19. Stoianof '63), 20. Subotici, 10. Fl. Costea (25. Fir?ulescu '75). Coach: Nicolo Napoli.
Astra: 77. C. Grigore - 2. M??el, 4. Mihalache, 6. L. Goian, 13. Junior Morais - 18. Str?til? (7. Paulinho '57), 10. Croitoru (3. Oprsal '80), 8. Takayuki Seto, 9. Budescu - 11. Tigoianu (20. Stan '46) - 14. Miranda. Coach: Tibor Selymes.
Yellow cards: W. Lopez '27, Fl. Costea '36 - Budescu '56, J. Morais '87

Astra Ploiesti obtained one point at Craiova, managing to comeback from 0-1. The team has 3 draws in a row and it is the case to start winning because at this rythm they cannot obtain a place for Europa League. It is imperative for them to obtain a victory with Victoria Branesti having in mind that the next two games will be with two candidates at the title. Owner Niculae promissed the players a big bonus if they manage to get into Europa League.

Victoria Branesti

Coach Ilie Stan declared that he will be thankfull if their team will get a draw in front of Astra: "We have a difficult game. Astra has a team that can reach places 3-5 and Europa League. It will be a difficult game for them also because we come to Ploiesti willing not to lose. Of course i want them to win, but i'd be happy with just a draw. The two week time out was good for us, the boys are rested and they seem to have gotten over the lost games with Steaua and Timisoara".

Probable team: Stoicescu - Maghici, Sg.Bar, Marinc?u, Lörincz - Fl.Petre, D.Popa, Olariu, R.Avram - Todoran, C.Coman; Coach: Ilie Stan; Injured: Velicu, Olariu; Suspended: -; Rezerves: Bordeanu, Nicola, Novac, Ispir, Zuluf, B.Oprea, Str?u?, Vasilescu, Simion

The team coached by Ilie Stan had two friendlies in this two weeks. The first, was on 23.03.2011 with AS Voluntari, a team from 3rd division winning against them with 3-1. They won also in the 2nd game played against Viitorul Constanta, a team from 2nd division.

LAST GAME (Victoria Br?ne?ti - FC Timi?oara 0-2)
Scored: 0-1 Ianis Zicu (45+2p), 0-2 Dorin Goga (84)
Br?ne?ti: 27. Stoicescu - 2. Maghici (34. Fl. Petre '82), 5. Sg. Bar, 24. Marinc?u, 3. Lorincz - 25. Novac (19. Zuluf '59), 8. D. Popa, 20. Ispir (13. Vasilescu '77), 30. Avram - 10. B. Oprea, 9. C. Coman. Coach: Ilie Stan.
Timi?oara: 29. Pantilimon - 20. Helder, 28. Cisovsky, 24. Ghionea, 8. Sepsi - 21. Goga (4. Luchin '90+1), 55. Bourceanu, 5. Alexa, 27. Zicu (3. Ignjatijevici '81) - 17. Magera, 9. Axente (19. Nikolici '63). Coach: Dusan Uhrin jr.
Yellow Cards: Coman '45+1, Vasilescu '82 - Bourceanu '21, '74 Zicu '56, Helder '69
Red card: Bourceanu '74

They will play in the next round with Sportul at home, a game that they must win to get important points in the fight for relegation.