FCSB needed only one more point in the last 4 stages to mathematically become the champion of Romania. And he got it on Saturday evening, in a match with the former champion, Farul (2-1).
FCSB players cheered after winning the championship. DigiSport capture
Gică Hagi's players were coming after some stellar performances, 5-1 with CFR Cluj and 3-1 with Rapid, but they were eliminated in Saturday night's game with FCSB. So the players of the leader flew on the field, scoring in the first half through Miculescu and missing some rare opportunities. They managed to equalize when there were 10 minutes to play, through Rivaldinho, but they overturned a few dozen seconds later, when Alex Băluță scored the winning goal and triggered the frenzy in the stands.
Celebration with 30,000 fans
30,000 spectators and the heroes on the pitch celebrated a title awaited for 9 years, during which Gigi Becali's team came out 7 times in second position and once in 5th place. FCSB had not won the title since 2015, that is exactly in the last season before the system change, with play-offs and play-outs.
FCSB is undefeated in the play-offs, having five wins and two draws, while Gică Hagi's team, the former champion, lost its second match in the play-offs (against the red-blues), having four wins and a equal. If last season they beat their rivals from Bucharest, this season Farul lost almost every time in the four direct duels: FCSB won 1-0 away and drew at home (1-1) in the regular season, and in the play-off he beat Farul 1-0 and 2-1.
Play-off, 7th stage
Saturday
FCSB – Farul Constanta 2-1
Sunday
CFR Cluj – Sepsi 21.00
Months
Rapid – Craiova University 20.30
Ranking
1. FCSB 49 points
2. Constanta Lighthouse 35p*
3. University of Craiova 34p*
4. CFR Cluj 31p*
5. Fast 29p*
6. Sepsis 28p*
*teams that benefited from rounding up the score.
**The 1st place in the play-off participates in the Champions League, and the 2nd and 3rd place in the play-off in the Europa Conference League. The 3rd place in the play-off will play a play-off with the winner of the play-off between the 1st and 2nd places in the play-out for a place in the Europa Conference League.
Play-out, 7th stage
Friday
Dinamo – Volunteers 1-1
Saturday
FC U Craiova – Cluj University 3-2
Sunday
Steel – Hermannstadt 13.30
Poli Iasi – UTA 18.15
Months
Petrolul – Botoșani 17.30
Ranking
1. Steel 30 points
2. U Cluj 29p
3. Hermannstadt 28p
4. UTA 28p
5. Petrol 26p*
6. Volunteers 23p
7. FCU Craiova 22p*
8. Botosani 21p*
9. Poli Iasi 21p*
10. Dynamo 21p*
*teams that benefited from rounding up the score.
**The 3rd place in the play-off will play a play-off with the winner of the play-off between the 1st and 2nd places in the play-out for a place in the Europa Conference League. The 9th and 10th places in the play-out are relegated directly. The relegable places 7/8 in the play-out play a play-off with the places 3/4 in League 2.
