UTA Arad – Metaloglobus, Bratu's boys force the miracle » Starting teams

The “Textiles” started the play-out on contrasting notes: a spectacular success, 3-2 against Hermannstadt, followed by a borderline failure at the National Arena, 0-1 against FCSB. Unlicensed for the European Cups, UTA is focusing all its efforts on avoiding the play-off places.

On the other hand, the team from Pantelimon is hoping for a real miracle: the rescue from relegation. Since the installation of Florin Bratu on the bench, Metaloglobus is undefeated, ticking draws with UTA (in the last stage of the regular season) and FCSB, but also a success against Petrol. At this moment, the team from the Capital is six points away from the last playoff spot, occupied by Prahoven.

LIVE, from 15:00 » UTA Arad – Metaloglobus

UTA Arad – Metaloglobus, starting teams:

UTA Arad (4-2-3-1): Gorcea – Iacob, Pospelov, Benga, Alomerovic – Mino, Van Durmen – Abdallah, Al. Roman, Țaroi – M. Coman
Reserves: Tordai – Țuțu, Poulolo, Stolnik, Ov. Popescu, Hrezdac, L. Mihai, Odada, Ciubăncan, Tolcea
Coach: Goodbye Mihalcea

Metaloglobus (4-2-3-1): Gavrilaș – Șîrlea, Camara, Pasagic, Sava – Carvalho, Sabater – Abbey, Purece, Ghimfuș – D. Popa
Reserves: Soare – Celaj, Liș, Zakir, Ely Fernandes, G. Dumitru, D. Irimia, Neacșu, A. Gheorghe, Huiban
Coach: Florin Bratu

Referee: Horatio Feșnic // ASSISTANT: Valentin Avram and Alexandru Cerei
VAR referee: Cristina Trandafir // Assistant VAR: Bogdan Dumitrache
Book: Marius Omuț // Obs. referees: Octavian Shovre

We are coming after a two-week break in which we had a number of players called up to the national teams. Some of them came tired, having played two matches, and others did not play at all. I said that the match is capital for us, very important, given all the context.

Their win with Petrolul, our less convincing evolution from the last match with FCSB, but also the points in the ranking economy at the moment they made me think it's a hugely important game for us.

This game is a bit strangehaving practically 70-80% of the linebackers injured or unavailable. We will have to improvise, but we have done this before recently.

– Adi Mihalcea, UTA Arad coach

The most important details, provided by Liviu Manolache, the GSP statistician:

• Seven wins, four draws and five defeats is the record recorded by the Aradians in the current championship on home ground.

• They are from Bucharest unbeaten in the last three stages (one success, two draws), being the first time I achieve such a positive streak.

• UTA is the team with most goals scored with a header – 13, of which five were scored by Marius Coman.

• Metaloglobus has only three games without conceding a goalof which only one away (0-0 FCSB).

• The group from Arada achieved 258 dribbles in the first 32 rounds, a chapter in which it is surpassed only by Farul (293) and Craiova University (268).

• They are the bands that have cashed in most goals from fixed phases, Metaloglobus – 21, UTA – 18.

• It should be noted the very good season made by Alin Roman, author of six goals, all from action, and leader in the ranking of decisive passers at the end of the previous stage, 12 assists.

• Dragoș Huiban is the only player from the two batches who checked attendance in every round of the current season. He is also the visitors' top scorer, with six goals scored.

• Adrian Mihalcea used 30 players in the current edition. On the other hand, the Bucharesters relied on 35 footballers, 18 of them debuting in the Super League.

• The two teams have only met in the main domestic competition in the 2025/2026 regular season, cand UTA took four points out of the six put into play2-0 win at home and 2-2 at Clinceni.

How the ranking from the Superliga play-out looks in real time: