Romania - Liga 1 - Rapid Bucuresti vs Timisoara

Rapid Bucuresti

Coach Marius Sumudica declared that he is disappointed by the attackers: “I don’t understand what is happening. Until the winter break we scored at every goal chance, now we have over 10 chances/game but we didn’t score a single goal. Rapid plays well, gets in front of the goal, has chances but misses all of them.”

Brazilian Carlos Cesinha is accusing an injury and will miss for two weeks. Sburlea also injured himself in the game with Victoria Branesti and will be sidelined for a month having a fracture at his toes.

Marius Sumudica could have big problems at the end of the match with FC Timisoara. Both central defenders are one yellow card for suspension and if they get the cards he will have to improvise the line of defender in the next game with Astra.

Probable team: Bornescu - Rui Duarte, Marcos Antonio, Glauber, Bozovic - Roman, N.Grigore, Olberdam, Frunza - Spadacio, Herea; Coach: Marius Sumudica; Injured: Sburlea, D.Coman, Cassio, Cesinha; Uncertain: Vidanov; Suspended: C.Lazar; Substitutes: Straton, Candido Costa, Ezequias, Pancu, Vidanov, Grigorie

LAST GAME (Victoria Branesti - Rapid Bucuresti 0-0)

Scored: -
Branesti: 27. Stoicescu - 2. Maghici, 5. Sg. Bar, 24. Marincau, 16. Nicola - 15. Iacob - 25. Novac (4. Calintaru '82), 8. D. Popa, 17. Olariu, 30. R. Avram (19. Zuluf '70) - 10. B. Oprea (28. Straut '90+2). Coach: Ilie Stan.
Rapid: 33. Bornescu - 2. Rui Duarte, 4. M. Antonio, 27. Glauber, 3. Ezequias - 14. M. Roman (20. Grigorie '74), 8. Grigore (15. C. Lazar '67), 30. Spadacio, 11. Frunza - 10. Herea, 77. Pancu (21. Sburlea '58). Coach: Marius Sumudica.
Yellow cards: Maghici '43, Marincau '45+1, Stoicescu '90+1 - Pancu 45+1, M. Antonio '64, C. Lazar '77.

Rapid is ashamed of what has happened at Chiajna, being unable to beat Victoria. The game ended 0-0, although Rapid had no less than 13 goal chances. They are out of the fight for the title and they still are away from a place that gets them to play in European Competitions.

FC Timisoara

Coach Dusan Uhrin considers that Liga 1 is a though championship, and Romanian football needs better stadiums. Uhrin is saying that Timisoara needs luck and besides that a good and permanent preparation.

Dorin Goga is saying that his team will come back. “The fatigue is present, two games/week makes it difficult and we have many injuries.”

Magera, Bourceanu and Burca are suspended for the game with Rapid getting yellow cards with Pandurii.

Probable team: Pantelimon - Helder, Cisovsky, Ghionea, Ignjatijevic - Goga, Alexa, Zicu, Tames - Axente, Zagrean; Coach: Dusan Uhrin Jr.; Injured: Mansour, I.Matei, Scutaru, Curtean; Uncertain: Sepsi; Suspended: Burca, Bourceanu, Magera; Substitutes: Taborda, Luchin, Sepsi, Rocha, Ricketts, Nikolici

Daniel Stanciu made an interesting disclosure announcing that the game that Otelul won by forfeit 3-0 with Pandurii could still be decided on the field! So, Otelul could have 3 points less and Pandruii could influence the outcome of this championship.

LAST GAME (FC Timisoara - Pandurii Targu-Jiu 2-2)
Scored: 1-0 Lukas Magera (26), 1-1 Jaka Stromajer (38), 1-2 Valentin Lemnaru (47), 2-2 Ianis Zicu (90)
Timisoara: 29. Pantilimon - 20. Helder, 24. Ghionea, 4. Luchin, 13. Scutaru (6. Ignjatijevici '30, 87. Ricketts '77) - 21. Goga, 25. Burca (30. Rocha '59), 55. Bourceanu, 27. Zicu - 17. Magera, 15. Zagrean. Coach: Dusan Uhrin Jr.
Pandurii: 80. Mingote - 25. Pleasca, 3. Viera, 5. Pintilii, 29. Grecu - 27. Lemnaru, 20. Vranjes, 16. Nistor (19. Avramescu '90+3), 7. Bacila (8. Popete '73), 6. Cardoso (23. Rada '53) - 18. Stromajer. Coach: Petre Grigoras.
Yellow cards: Burca '51, Zagrean '52, Bourceanu '71, Goga '72, Magera '83 - Stromajer '87.

FC Timisoara won only one point with modest Pandurii, but because Otelul lost with Steaua they gained the 1^st place in the championship. There are still 8 rounds to go and Timisoara needs to get out fast of their crisis. In the last 5 rounds they have 3 draws, all at home. A draw will be again a week result because Otelul drew with Dinamo and a win could see them 2 points ahead of Otelul.

Both Sumudica and Uhrin have problems with the team, having injured and suspended players. Normally we would think that Timisoara has more to play fore and should go for a win here, but this game could go either way. No bet here.