Article by Robert Vîrdol – Published Saturday, February 14, 2026, 6:41 p.m. / Updated Saturday, February 14, 2026, 6:41 p.m.
Bogdan Vatajelu (33 years old), the former full-back from University of Craiovawho started football at FCSB, analyzed Sunday's match between the two rivals in the SuperLiga for Gazeta Sporturilor.
Craiova University and FCSB meet in a fiery derby on Sunday evening, and Bogdan Vătăjelu prefaced the duel on “Ion Oblemenco”. Olteni are in first place in the championship, and a win can give them an advantage over Rapid and Dinamo, the main rivals in the title fight.
Bogdan Vătăjelu: “Craiova still has a chance to recover”
In a dialogue with Gazeta Sporturilor, Bogdan Vătăjelu spoke about the importance of Sunday night's duel, but also about the absence of Ștefan Baiaram, who is suspended.
“I think the greater pressure is on FCSB, because Craiova is in first place and has already secured the place in the play-offs, while FCSB dreams of reaching the play-offs and I think it will be a match where they will expect each other and I think it will be a pretty nice match, that's clear. There have always been nice duels and it will be a tough and nice match.
If FCSB loses, it will be harder to enter the play-offs, and if Craiova loses, it still has a chance to recover anyway.
The way he's looked lately, I think he can enter the FCSB play-offs. We can't just refer to some lost matches, because they were focusing on the Europa League, I think they are a good team and they know the experience in Europe.
I saw that Baiaram is suspended, he is an important point for Craiova this season, he has grown a lot and made a lot of contributions to the goal and it is possible to feel it, but there are players who can replace him and even maybe they will be able to make a very good match. It's a match where you don't need motivation anymore, probably someone will come in and take care of the tasks”, said Vătăjelu.
Bogdan Vătăjelu has two trophies with Craiova University
The right-footed left defender played in Banie in two periods. The first was between 2014 and 2017, during which he did not win any trophy, and the second was between 2019 and 2023, during which he conquered the Romanian Cup and the Romanian Supercup.
He is currently free of contract after the experience in Kazakhstan in Aktobe.
