Article by Ovidiu Ioanițoaia – published on Friday, August 29, 2025, 17:00 / Updated on Friday, August 2025 17:00
Thursday night was a perfect one for our football in the idea that all 3 Romanian bands finished winning. What makes the chronicler's mission difficult because, please believe me in the word, it is always easier to criticize than to praise.
This time, however, praise is also due to CFR Cluj, to start with the team to watch, from the stadium or on the television, few people. Because on the National Arena and “Oblemenco”, an audience has been recorded about 10 times larger. And the atmosphere exceeded any imagination, from where the statement that the most beautiful part of football here is represented by the public. Who loves them with passion and enthusiastically encourage FCSB and Craiova.
Winning by 1-0, CFR was still washed out of the shame of that unbeliever 2-7 from Goteborg. But I doubt that this success also means the exit from the tunnel for a grinded team of injuries and disturbed by the Saga of Louis Munteanu's sale. In addition, we will receive information on Sunday, after the confrontation of CFR – FCSB from Gruia.
Made in the image and resemblance of Dan Petrescu, the band from Cluj will be trained by the Italian Mandorlini. Another style, another vision, which is why I doubt that the team will get rid of it quickly. But I do not agree with those who look finger at Petrescu and consider him guilty of the CFR's black pass.
In my opinion, he was wrong by the fact that, knowing suffering under treatment, he did not withdraw earlier. And so, the name of the technician who brought in Gruia 6 trophies, the last (Romanian Cup) in 2025, must be said with much respect. Under no circumstances, persecuted.
In turn, FCSB outclassed Aberdeen at the end of a match that ended, practically, at the end of the half. A decision, appreciated by the Scottish press as severe, which I confess I did not understand very well.
In fact, what sanctioned Eskas, Henț at Jensen or Fault on Miculescu? I am inclined to believe that he still whistled, because for the hen, because the ball hit the Danish defender of Aberdeen, was not required to grant the second yellow card. Jensen had no time to play the ball with her hand.
From the moment Olaru transformed the penalty with cold blood, the match was held only in the half of the Scots, clearly dominated by the champions of Romania. They thus reconfirmed their European vocation. Default, and the value. Fl. Tanase (as usual), Olaru and Sut, the authors of the goals, as well as Lixandru and Crețu, each of them with 3 lungs were distinguished.
We are going to clarify to what extent the clear success from the Aberdeeen dispute, obtained in the fanfare, will unload on FCSB and in the championship. Where the band from Berceni pants on the 13th place, by the dam. As I said, we will get a first answer on Sunday.
Especially I left Craiova at the end of this note because it was, in my opinion, the most pleasant surprise of the day. Being the only one who has awarded both his disks in the dispute with an opponent, Bașakșehir, superior quoted and initially placed in the pole position. Remarkable that although 2-1 winner in Istanbul, the University refused the waiting football, at the little pinch.
He also succeeded, proving self-control, to return to “Oblemenco” from 0-1, empty in the 7th minute!, To go to a triumph that brings it back to the 2nd of a continental competition after 32 years.
When I said that 2025 can be the year of Craiova, a justified claimant to win the championship, many took it as a joke. But the joke was thickened in the context in which, undefeated in 7 stages, the university was at the forefront of the ranking at 14 points by FCSB and CFR!
Obviously, he is an author's team, marked by Rădoi's ambition and energy, by his desire to win every match. Thinking of this way, Rădoi risked Baiaram from the start of the match with Bașakșehir and Him took him, although the new white-blue star, incomplete, needed infiltration.
He risked and came out, being a common place that luck smiles for the brave. As Cicâldău, another footballer in which I believe, gradually regain the form and Constanta who promoted it in the national team, Craiova is recommended as the team of the moment. On the wave.
Considering that he operated only top transfers, Isnko, T. Băluță, Romanchuk, Al Hamlawi and Nsimba, Mihai Rotaru has enough arguments to dream in the European spring. As long as it will be quiet in Bănie, not gâlceavă and exaggerated pride, the university is capable of reaching and remaining at the top of the hierarchy.
With FCSB in the Europa League and Craiova groups in the lecturers, it is logical to declare ourselves satisfied. But so, do not delight if we remember, and you must have qualified in the Champions League a team from Cyprus and one from Azerbaijan, some anonymous! We still have targets to reach, we have to climb. We are waiting for a long way to far, right?
