FCSB and CFR Cluj, little chance of seeing the Champions League group, Craiova University would have an impossible mission! What the route now looks like

The Sports Gazette simulated the route of the Romanian champion if the current championship configuration would be maintained and if the teams in the series leader would win their doubles.

The fight for the title in Superliga is an extremely intense one, with FCSB (35 points), CFR Cluj (33) and Craiova University (32) as the main favorite. The stake is not only the champion trophy, but also the possibility to participate in the UEFA Champions League preliminaries.

Superliga sends in the main competition interclubs a single team, the champion of Romania entering the first round of the preliminaries. There, only FCSB and CFR Cluj would be the series, due to the coefficient. Craiova University, Cluj or Rapid University (the last two small chances of winning the title) would begin the second urine qualification campaign.

What the route of the Romanian champion looks to the UEFA Champions League group looks like

On a current simulation, if the European championships were now over, FCSB and CFR Cluj would be in the series in round 1. The red-blue team would be the second first ranked, with a coefficient of 22,500. Only Ludogoreț would be over (24,000). And CFR would be in the same position, Dan Petrescu's band has a 19,000 coefficient.

In this scenario, the mission of the Romanian champion would be easy. The opponents would be, at this moment, teams such as: Inter Club d'Esceldes, Levadia Tallinn, FC Noah, Floriana or Virtus.

What the ballot boxes would look like in round 1 with FCSB or CFR Cluj Champion:

• Series heads: Ludogoreț, FCSB/ CFR Cluj, Olimija Ljubljana, Malmo, Zalgiris, RFS Riga, Zirinjski Mostar, Lincoln Red Cint, Kups, The New Saints, FC Drita, Breidablik, Linfield, Buducnost
• Urna 2: Inter Club d'Esceldes, Skendija, Levadia Tallinn, Dinamo Minsk, Milsami, Kairat Almaty, FC Noah, Differdange, Iberia, Floriana, Vikingur, Shelbourne, Egnatia, Virtus

If the University of Craiova comes out the champion, on the current configuration, it would be in the second ballot box, with the third coefficient. And the inter club d'Esceldes would become a series head.

FCSB and CFR Cluj, series heads and in the 2 round of the UEFA Champions League preliminaries

In the next round, FCSB and CFR Cluj would keep their favorite status. And it would have every chance to move on, the list of possible opponents being an accessible one. The teams that could go out of them include: RFS Riga, Zirinjski Mostar, Lincoln Red Imps, Hajud Split, Buducnost or Pushkas Academy.

For Craiova University the situation would be more complicated. In order to be a series head, the Oltenians must fall in round 1 with a team with a pretty good coefficient so that in the 2 round the series. And the situation is more complicated. The variants would be: Ludogoreț, Olimpija Ljubljana, Malmo or Zalgiris. If not, it will be in the second ballot box.

What the ballot boxes would look like in round 2 with FCSB or CFR Cluj Champion*

• Series heads: FC Copenhagen, Red Star, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Slovan Bratislava, Qarabag, Ludogoreț, Dinamo Kiev, FCSB/CFR Cluj, Olimija Ljubljana, Malmo, Zalgiris, Pafos.
• Urna 2: RFS Riga, Zirinjski Mostar, Hajduk Split, Lincoln Red Imps, Kups, The New Saints, FC Drita, Breidablik, Linfield, Buducnost, Rakow, Punkas Akademia*If the formations that are series heads in round 1 earn their double

If the University of Craiova comes out the champion and the opponent of the tour is not Ludogoreț, Olimija Ljubljana, Malmo or Zalgiris, the Oltenians will be in the second ballot. And RFS Riga becomes a series head.

Complicated situation in Tour 3 of UCL preliminaries

At this moment, FCSB and CFR Cluj would not be a series head in the Tour of UCL Preliminaries. Possible opponents would be: FC Copenhagen, Red Star, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Slovan, Qarabag and Ludogoreț.

The peak, Craiova University could be a series head, depending on the opponents in the preliminary tours. But the mission is extremely complicated. It has to pass the first round, then in the tour to fall with FC Copenhagen, Red Star, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Slovan Bratislava or Qarabag and win the double. Thus they would take over their status and have to face one of: Dinamo Kyiv, Olimpija Ljubljana, Malmo, Zalgiris, Pafos.

What the ballot boxes would look like in tour 3 with FCSB or CFR Cluj Champion*

• Series heads: FC Copenhagen, Red Star, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Slovan Bratislava, Qarabag, Ludogoreț
• Urna 2: Dinamo Kiev, FCSB/CFR Cluj, Olimija Ljubljana, Malmo, Zalgiris, Pafos

It could happen a miracle

For FCSB or CFR Cluj to be the series leader, Maccabi Tel Aviv must not become a champion in Israel (he has two points over Hapoel Beer Sheva) or Dinamo Kiev not to take the title (he has 4 points over Oleksandriya). Thus, they would climb as a result of the favorites.

Maccabi is a series head in round 2 and in round 3, Dinamo Kiev only in the round.

Which would lead to the release of a place in the urn 1 in round 3, which would take FCSB or CFR Cluj. And opponents would be Olimpija Ljubljana, Malmo, Zalgiris, Pafos, RFS Riga or Zrinjski.

What does the Champions League play-offs look like

In the play-off, FCSB and CFR Cluj can be series heads if in the 3 round they meet and eliminate one of FC Copenhagen, Red Star Belgrade or Maccabi Tel Aviv. Thus, they would take over the status of favorites.

• If in round 3 opponents are FC Copenhagen, Red Star or Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Romanian champion will face the play-off: Slovan, FC Basel, Qarabag, Ludogoreț or Strum Graz.
• If in the round 3 opponents are Slovan, Qarabag or Ludogoreț, the Romanian champion will not be a series head and will face the play-off: Bodo/Glimt, FC Copenhagen, Red Star, Celtic or Maccabi Tel Aviv.
• If FCSB or CFR Cluj are series heads in round 3 because Maccabi and Dinamo Kiev do not become champions, the possible opponents are: Bodo/Glimt, FC Copenhagen, Red Star, Celtic or Slovan.

In the play-off, Craiova University cannot be a series. The opponent would choose from among Bodo/Glimt, FC Copenhagen, Red Star, Celtic or Slovan.