Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Thursday, 19 March 2026, 08:37 / Updated on Thursday, 19 March 2026 08:38
Basarab Panduru (55 years old) analyzed what happened in the first stage of the play-off and had only words of praise for those from FC Argesthe revelation of this season. Newly promoted beat Craiova away in the first roundscore 1-0, and at this moment they are in 4th place, with 28 points, 3 behind the leader Rapid.
Pitesti fought a long-distance battle with FCSB for that 6th place, and Bogdan Andone's team won. More than that, he proves that he doesn't want to just show up in the play-offs.
Basarab Panduru, pleasantly surprised by FC Argeș's game: “I was impressed”
Panduru claims that FC Argeș can even win the championship if it maintains the pace from Craiova and continues to play similar football.
“You won't see tomorrow who will beat who. The way Argesul played seemed to me a great football, physically, with pressure, with everything you want. Physically, they were outstanding. I was impressed by FC Argeş, Craiova couldn't do anything, and that match was about FC Argeş, not about Craiova.
If they play the same way, then they win the championship, because I don't see anyone beating them if they play the same way. I don't see how you can get past them, when they put that man-to-man pressure you can't get past them“, stated Panduru, at Prima Sport.
In the second stage, FC Argeș will receive a visit from U Cluj, on March 21. The two teams meet in Mioveni and in the semifinals of the Romanian Betano Cup.
FC Argeș has two titles in the club's history, won in the 1971-1972 and 1978-1979 seasons
FC Argeș play-off schedule
Up-to-date ranking from the play-offs
