Romania - Liga 1 - Astra Ploiesti vs Rapid Bucuresti

Game to be played @ 19:00 CET

Astra Ploiesti

Coach Tibor Selymes declared that the opponent in friday's game, Rapid, has the most valuable team in the championship, saying that he doesn't know how much will count the absence of brazilian midfielder Juliano Spadacio(27/2). "Next season we will have as objective European Cups, we need to fight with the big teams and the game with Rapid is a moment in which we will know on which player we will count. Friday we need to look like a team." declared Selymes.

Astra didn't lost only the game with Pandurii in the last round, but also their 2 main central midfielders: Takayuki Seto and Ousmane N'Doye who recieved yellow cards and are suspended 1 round. Fortunatley, defender Goyan(18/0) and Al. Stan will be back so coach of Astra can move Mihalache in midfield next to Croitoru.

Probable team: C.Grigore - Matel, L.Goian, Oprsal, Maranhao - Stratila, Mihalache, Croitoru, Paulinho - Fatai, Miranda; Coach: Tibor Selymes; Injured: Budescu, Gussev, Nogo; Suspended: Seto, N'Doye; Substitutes: Miron, Tiganasu, Al. Stan, Tigoianu, Ben Teekloh, Amorim

LAST GAME (Pandurii Targu-Jiu - Astra Ploiesti 1-0)
Scored: 1-0 Claudiu Voiculet (84)
Pandurii: 80. Mingote - 2. Matei (8. Popete '73), 3. Viera, 23. Rada (14. Voiculet '67), 29. Grecu - 7. Bacila, 5. Pintilii, 16. Nistor (19. Avramescu '90+3), 20. Vranjes - 27. Lemnaru, 18. Stromajer. Coach: Petre Grigoras.
Astra: 77. Grigore - 2. Matel, 3. Oprsal, 4. Mihalache, 13. Junior Morais - 18. Stratila (16. Tiganasu '74), 78. N’Doye, 8. Takayuki (10. Croitoru '90), 7. Paulinho (11. Tigoianu '56) - 21. Fatai, 14. Miranda. Coach: Tibor Selymes.
Yellow cards: Matei '18, Pintilii '50, Vranjes '78 - Paulinho '9, Oprsal '77, N’Doye '88

Astra Ploiesti lost the game from Turnu-Severin with Pandurii, 0-1, and most certainly lost a participation in European Cups. With 7 rounds to go, the team is at 8 points from 5th place, occupied by Rapid who will meet today. Even if they win the game, they would need to recover 5 points which is difficult.

Rapid Bucuresti

Brazilian midfielder Juliano Spadacio declared on wednesday, when he left Romania, that he filed a complaint at FIFA against Rapid because they didn't pay him for three months. The team also didn't train on wednesday being for a day on strike, but yesterday the things turned out well as owner George Copos made a new lown at the bank and till 18:00 the players had the money in their accounts.

Probable team: Bornescu - Vidanov, Marcos Antonio, Glauber, Ezequias - Roman, N.Grigore, C.Lazar, Bozovic - Pancu, Herea; Coach: Marius Sumudica; Injured: Sburlea, Cassio, Cesinha; Suspended: Rui Duarte; Will be missing: M.Constantin (sent to 2nd team), Spadacio (left in Brazil); Substitutes: Coman, Grigorie, Frunza, Candido, Olberdam

Sumudica confirmed that he is wanted at the national team of India. "They call to convince me to go there, but i didn't discuss anything. I am coach of Rapid for now and don't think of another job."

LAST GAME (Rapid Bucuresti - FC Timisoara 3-2)
Scored: 1-0 Vladimir Bozovic (11), 1-1 Ianis Zicu (18), 2-1 Mihai Roman (33), 3-1 Daniel Pancu (61), 3-2 Dan Alexa (85)
Rapid: 33. Bornescu - 2. Rui Duarte, 4. M. Antonio, 27. Glauber, 3. Ezequias - 14. Roman, 8. Grigore, 13. Olberdam, 19. Bozovici (11. Frunza '86) - 30. Spadacio (20. Grigorie '78), 10. Herea (77. Pancu '58). Coach: Marius Sumudica.
Timisoara: 29. Pantilimon - 20. Helder, 28. Cisovsky, 24. Ghionea, 8. Sepsi - 5. Alexa, 55. Bourceanu (19. Nikolici '80) - 21. Goga. 10. Tames (7. Curtean '58), 27. Zicu - 9. Axente (15. Zagrean '61). Coach: Dusan Uhrin jr.
Yellow cards: Rui Duarte '30, Grigore '40, Spadacio '67, Roman '90, Pancu '90+3, Grigorie '90+5 - Cisovsky '38.

Rapid cought an excelent night with Timisoara, winning 3-2 and playing excelent. The score lies, because Rapid controlled the game and could have obtain a win with big goal difference. Sumudica's team are still in the fight for a European cup place and will try to win points today. They will try to win at Ploiesti or get a draw in the worst case because they would have some easy games next with Sportul and Pandurii.