The Romanian championship, although of questionable football quality, has, however, had salt and pepper in recent seasons. Because, every time, the fight for supremacy was passionate and went to the last rounds.
Romanian fans have suffered many sporting disappointments in recent years. PHOTO: Platform X
Now, unfortunately, the suspense that compensated for the lack of value has also been lost. Because, although we haven't even reached the halfway point of the play-off, which is just coming up this weekend, the 1st place has already been awarded, in a proportion of 99%, by FCSB. It was not for nothing that Gigi Becali said that, if the points were halved once more, his team would finish in 1st place!
It came to this situation, not only because FCSB had continuity, plus a superior group in which footballers like Coman and Olaru shine, but also because the followers of the red-blues were incredibly weak! When we look at the play-off hierarchy after four stages, we notice a shocking detail. Namely the fact that CFR Cluj, in 2nd place, therefore the main opponent for the title for FCSB, collected only 4 points in the play-off! It's a shocking record, especially if we look at what happened in the previous editions of the Superliga. Each time, after four play-off stages, the 2nd place holder has collected more points than CFR Cluj, at the current time! Here is what the statistics tell us:
*Season 2022-2023 – 2nd place, CFR Cluj = 6 points after four stages
*Season 2021-2022 – 2nd place, FCSB = 9 points after four matches
*Season 2020-2021 – 2nd place, CFR Cluj = 9 points after four rounds
*Season 2019-2020 – 2nd place, University of Craiova = 9 points after four stages
*Season 2018-2019 – 2nd place, FCSB = 9 points after four matches
This unprecedented impotence of the team in 2nd place is another reason why, recently, including Victor Pițurcă, he was shocked by the level of the championship, in a dialogue with sport.ro.
“The championship is weak, weak. FCSB was the most consistent team and that's why they will emerge as champions. I don't see a very valuable player in Rapid. Weak players were brought in, with no strength, and here they are, playing one good game and four bad ones. At CFR Cluj, Dan Petrescu was supposed to be a Ferguson of our championship. It was normal and logical for Dan Petrescu to coach the CFR for 20 years for the performances he achieved, he was born as a coach for the CFR“, said the former selector, in an attempt to explain why FCSB's followers kept stumbling.
The moment of truth is coming
Now, when we have six play-off stages left, the only stake is the ranking on the podium, in the 2nd and 3rd places, which offer the prospect of participation in the upcoming season of European cups. But here too there is a problem! It remains to be seen how our representatives will fare in UEFA competitions, if domestically they have left a dismal impression, except for FCSB! If in the past years, when we had a thrilling championship, we were a bit of a laughing stock in Europe, we can only imagine what can follow now, in the preliminaries of the continental competitions.
Play-off, 4th stage
Friday
University of Craiova – Farul 1-2
Sunday
CFR Cluj – FCSB 0-1
Months
Rapid – Sepsi 0-1
Ranking
1. FCSB 44 points
2. CFR Cluj 31p*
3. University of Craiova 31p*
4. Constanta Lighthouse 29p*
5. Fast 28p*
6. Sepsis 27p*
*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.
