Romania - Liga 1 - Timisoara vs Steaua Bucharest

Captain Dan Alexa about Steaua : ”This game is very important as Steaua is playing its last chance. A victory with Steaua would be a big step for us, we don’t play necessary for rewards. They have important players, who can make a difference, it is a team with tradition and for sure it will not be an easy game. We are playing home and we have to do our best not to let our supporters down. A tough period awaits us, we will play every three days, so a good start is very important, it will boost our confidence. We play to win, we play for those three points, but most important we play for ourselves and for the supporters."

Goal-keeper, Costel Pantelimon was teammate at the national team with his opponent, Ciprian Tatarusanu, but the two haven’t spoken about this match: ”We are glad that stadium will be full, we were expecting this after the game witch Craiova. This game is very important to us, it decides if the race for the title continues or not. We play home, we need those three points, but Steaua has also important things to fight for, the European Cups. We need three points at every match; we are in a position in which we cannot afford any other result if we want to stay close to Otelu.” Pantelimon thinks that the opponent’s power consists in the group and not in the individuals: ”Steaua has a good team, a strong one, as the table shows I can say that the chance of winning this game is all ours. But things are not that simple on the court, is doesn’t matter the position in the table but the performance.”

Midfielder, Alexandru Curtan came back on the court after an absence of five months and is determined to win: ”although Steaua has shown what is capable of in this championship, we are ready for them. I saw Steaua playing at Chisinau for a few minutes and the one who impressed me was Maicon. The score is irrelevant, it doesn’t matter that we scored one goal and Steaua 4, those were checking games with the purpose of keeping us alert. It is one of the most important games till now as both teams have a lot to play for. We miss Latovleci, Bonfim, but this time we are going to be opponents and I’m not sure if that is an advantage or a disadvantage for us.”

Coach Dusan Uhrin is concerned about the results of this game as he cannot count on 5 of his players; Zicu and Bourceanu will be absent because they are suspended, while Magera, Sepsi, and Axente have medical problems. Canadian Tosaint Ricktts is uncertain, he just came back from playing at his national team and can nou be used as titular on Saturday.

Probable team: Pantelimon - Scutaru, ?išovský, Ghionea, Ignjatijevi? - Alexa, Burc? - Helder, Al.Popovici, Tame? - Goga; Coach: Dušan Uhrin Jr. ; Injuries: Mansour; Uncertain: Sepsi, Magera, Axente; Suspended: Bourceanu, Zicu; Reserves: Taborda, Krejci, Curtean, Luchin, Rocha, Magera, Nikolic, Z?grean

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

FC Timisoara obtained a logical victory against Victoria Branesti showing that this season that they will not hobble with small teams. Dusan Uhrin's team is in front of an important game with Steaua, a team that still hopes to fight for the title. If Timisoara wins, they will go 13 points away and will give Steaua no chance for the title. They will play without a bonus in this game but the biggest bonus will await them at the end fi they win the title: 150.000 EUR for each player.

Steaua Bucuresti

Coach Sorin Cartu declared that the game with FC Timisoara is decisive for his team, a negative result making their hopes for title to perish: "Unfortunatley this is the reality. There are still 11 rounds and anything can happen but it is difficult to say that without a positive result we can still catch the title."

Owner Gigi Becali declared that Janos Szekely will not play anymore for Steaua because he had bad temper in a meeting with the medical staff. Steaua is hit by bad luck before the game with Timisoara. Ricardo is injured, Tanase will be back only next round and Radut injured himself yesterday at training and will not make it with Poli. Cartu has only Nicolita from the midfield line against Timisoara. Bicfalvi and Marinescu could be two replacement and Surdu could play in the place of Tanase and Maicon and Bilasco in front.

Probable team: T?t?ru?anu - Eder Bonfim, Iliev, Geraldo Alves, Brandan - L.Marinescu, Gardo?, Bicfalvi, Surdu - Bila?co, Maicon; Coach: Sorin Câr?u; Injured:  C.Lungu, Galamaz, Ricardo, Cr.T?nase, R?du?; Suspended: -; Reserves: Stanca, Emeghara, Martinovici, Latovlevici, Dic?, Onofra?

Steaua won on Saturday, at Chisinau, in a friendly game Dacia with 4-0, 2 of the goals being scored by Maicon at his debut.

LAST GAME(Steaua Bucure?ti - FC Vaslui 1-1)
Scored: 1-0 B?nel Nicoli?? (51), 1-1 Adailton Martins (80)
Steaua: 12. T?t?ru?anu - 29. Bonfim, 6. Gardo?, 23. Geraldo, 5. Brandan - 16. Nicoli??, 21. Ricardo, 26. Bicfalvi (8. R?du? '46), 7. Szekely (14. Latovlevici '63) - 24. Surdu (11. Onofra? '80), 17. Bila?co. Coach: Sorin Câr?u.
Vaslui: 1. Kuciak - 3. Papp, 28. Cânu, 6. Rivas, 20. Milanov (17. B?lace '78) - 2. Campano (25. Yero Bello '58), 4. Gencev (11. Milislavljevici '71), 30. R. Costin , 18. Sânm?rtean - 10. Adailton, 80. Wesley. Coach: Viorel Hizo.
Yellow cards: Szekely '53, Ricardo '60 - Papp '29, Sânm?rtean '54, Milislavljevici '77

Although having 1-0 with Vaslui, Steaua didn't manage to win the game getting away from the top 3 places. If they don't win this game they will have to cope with a place in Europa League for the next season. The key is this game with Timisoara as there will be expected easy games from now on for them.

Betting RSS recomends that this is a no bet game as both teams have injuries and problems, Steaua being a slight favourite because they play on home turf.