Romania - Liga 1 - Astra Ploiesti vs Steaua Bucuresti

Game to be played Sunday - 19:30 CET

Astra Ploiesti

Astra hasn't lost a single official game in 2011, having a win and 4 draws ahead of the match with Steaua, programmed for sunday evening. There were 4 unfair draws for Tibor Selymes's team, everytime his team being very close to the 3 points.

Steaua doesn't impress Selymes, ex-international saying that "we approach every game the same, even if we play with Steaua, Vaslui and otelul. Our objective is to win every match, to learn to conserve the lead. I hope on sunday we see the same attitude we had in the last meetings, to work and be well organized, and if we do so, Steaua will have a difficult match with us."

Selymes also declared that he will be happy if Astra would obtain 8 points in the following 4 rounds, with Steaua, Sportul Studentesc, Pandurii and Rapid: "We planned 3 points with Sportul, but we are interested in points even with Steaua."

For Astra, Salif Nogo has medical problems and will miss the game, meanwhile Constantin Budescu will find out today if he will play on sunday. Also, Paulinho is uncertain follwing an injury he had before the game with Timisoara.

Probable team: C.Grigore - Matel, Mihalache, L.Goian, Maranhao - Stratila, N'Doye, Seto, Tigoianu (Budescu) - Fatai, Miranda; Coach: Tibor Selymes; Injured: Gussev, Nogo; Uncertain: Budescu, Paulinho; Suspended: -; Backups: Miron, Oprsal, ?ig?na?u, Croitoru, Stan, Paulinho, Budescu

LAST GAME (FC Timi?oara - Astra Ploie?ti 2-2)
Scored: 0-1 Osvaldo Miranda (17), 0-2 Ousmane N'Doye (64p), 1-2 Ianis Zicu (72p), 2-2 Andrei Zagrean (79)
Timi?oara: 29. Pantilimon - 20. Helder, 4. Luchin, 28. Ciosvsky, 6. Ignjatijevici - 7. Curtean (10. Tame? '56), 5. Alexa, 55. Bourceanu (19. Nikolici '88), 27. Zicu - 17. Magera, 9. Axente (15. Z?grean '46). Coach: Dusan Uhrin Jr.
Astra: 77. C. Grigore - 2. M??el, 4. Mihalache, 6. L. Goian, 13. Morais - 8. Seto, 78. N?Doye, 11. Tigoianu (3. Oprsal '82), 18. Str?til? (21. Fatai '85) - 9. Budescu (20. Stan '29), 14. Miranda. Coach: Tibor Selymes.
Yellow cards: Zicu '41, Ignjatijevici '28, Cisovsky - N'Doye '37, Stan '53, Morais '70
Red cards: Alexa '90

Astra lost 2 points with Timisoara, after finishing the game with a draw, 2-2. Selymes's team had the lead with 2-0, but in the last 18 minutes the players were seemingley and they recieved 2 goals. This point doesn't help Astra much because Rapid, Dinamo and Steaua all won in the previous round, but being obtained away at Timisoara it is important. Astra will meet two weaker teams after this game.

Steaua Bucuresti

Coach Sorin Cartu declared that the game with Astra will be more difficult than the meetings with FC Vaslui and FC Timisoara: "Astra is a team that has a new face after coach Selymes came to the team. I talked with the players and we are aware that we don't have to praise the last game won with 5-0 against Urziceni. We know what it's install for us, a maximum number of points with Astra and Sportul gives us hope for the first two places."

Steaua's coach thinks that the fight for the title started again. Sorin Cartu will continue with Ploiesti the rotation system that he imposed because Steaua plays in april 3 days one after another. Forward Romeo Surdu suffered an injury in the game with Urziceni and will not play with Astra. Also Brandan is suspended for this game. In the place of the argentinean will playe Latovlevic while Onofras will play with Bilasco in attack.

Probable team: Tataru?anu - Eder Bonfim, Martinovi?, Geraldo Alves, Latovlevici - Nicolita, Gardos, Ricardo, L.Marinescu - Bilasco, Onofras; Coach: Sorin Cartu; Injured: C.Lungu, Cr.T?nase, R?du?, Surdu; Suspended: Brandan; Backups: Stanca, Emeghara, Iliev, Bicfalvi, Dic?, Burdujan, Maicon

LAST GAME(Steaua Bucure?ti - Unirea Urziceni 5-0)
Scored: 1-0 Banel Nicolita (7), 2-0 Geraldo Alves (10), 3-0 Nicolae Dica (64p), 4-0 Geraldo Alves (75), 5-0 Lucian Burdujan (83)
Steaua: 12. T?t?ru?anu - 29. Bonfim, 18. Martinovici, 23. Geraldo (14. Latovlevici '78), 5. Brandan - 6. Gardo? - 16. Nicoli??, 20. Dic?, 27. Marinescu - 24. Surdu (11. Onofra? '46), 17. Bila?co (9. Burdujan '65).Coach:  Sorin Câr?u.
Urziceni: 1. Curc? - 16. Bu?c? (18. Blay '57), 5. M. Ioni??, 16. E. Nicu, 17. Tene (5. V. Lupu '25) - 3. Teu?an, 6. Muzac (11. A. P?dure?u '60) - 9. Tob?, 30. Marcu, 31. Senin - 90. Mihalcea. Coach: Marian Pan?.
Yellow cards: Nicoli?? '38, Brandan '84 - Teu?an '9, E.Nicu ' 64, '90
Red card: E.Nicu '90

As expected, Steaua didn't have a problem with Unirea Urziceni, winning with a big goal difference, 5-0. This success makes the title hopes reapear in Ghencea. Steaua is at 9p from 1st place and to still dream of the title will have to win tomorrows game with Ploiesti. Three points with Astra and another three with Otelul would make Cartu's team to continue the fight for the title or at least the 2nd place.

Betting RSS thinks that Steaua will not leave this game without points.