Article by Liviu Manolache – Published Monday, April 20, 2026, 5:08 p.m. / Updated Monday, April 20, 2026, 5:09 p.m.
FC Botosani – Metalloglobus is the match that opens the day in the Superliga play-out. The game is played from 17:30, liveTEXT on GSP.ro and live on Digi Sport 1 and Prima Sport 1.
The match is crucial for Florin Bratu, who hopes for a miracle to save Metaloglobus from League 2, but the coach also knows that it is almost possible to have a magic wand in such a short period of time.
Especially since Metaloglobus is the only team in the current edition without an away win, with the Bucharest team only having three draws in 17 games.
Instead, the Moldovans have nine successes, five draws and only three defeats at home. FC Botoșani being the team with the fewest players used – 29.
On the other hand, Metaloglobus relied on 36 footballers, 19 of whom debuted in the Super League during this season.
FC Botoșani – Metaloglobus, live from 17:30
FC Botoșani – Metaloglobus, starting teams:
FC BOTOSANI: Kukic – Suta, Miron, Diaw, Creț – Papa, Petro – Bodișteanu, Ongenda, Mitrov – Mailat
reserves: Tomache – Adams, Șigănașu, Ilas, E. David, Bordeianu, Aldair, Bota, Pănoiu, De Vega, Kovtaliuk, Dumiter
Coach: Marius Tailor
METALOGLOBUS: Gavrilaș – D. Irimia, Camara, Cestor, Neacșu – A. Gheorghe, Purece, Tous – Zakir, Huiban, Abbey
reserves: Nedelcovici – Lis, Sava, Ghimfus, Visic, A. Irimia, Mpondo, Pasagic, Ely Fernandes, Celaj, Carvalho
Coach: Florin Bratu
- Stadium: Municipal (Botoşani)
- Referee: Lăstun Mihail Sebastian (Râmnicu Vâlcea)
- Assistants: Vişan Florian Alexandru (Galaţi), Vlase Daniel (Galaţi)
- VAR Referee: Găman George Cătălin (Craiova)
- Assistant VAR: Gheorghe Sebastian Eugen (Suceava)
Marius Croitoru, before the match between FC Botoșani and Metaloglobus
Real-time ranking in play-out
FC Botoșani – Metaloglobus, match information
- The two teams met in the main domestic competition only in the 2025/2026 regular season, when the Moldovans prevailed in both games, 2-0 away and 3-0 at home.
- 61.5% is the average possession of the Moldovans in the first four rounds of the play-out, the 1st place in this chapter (Metaloglobus – 44%).
- The visitors ended the previous round with the worst attack in the championship, only 27 goals scored, and with the worst defense, 72 goals conceded.
- Three players from the team currently coached by Marius Croitoru have at least 10 offensive contributions in the first 34 rounds: Sebastian Mailat – 15 (10 goals, 5 assists), Hervin Ongenda – 12 (6 goals, 6 assists) and Zoran Mitrov – 10 (4 goals, 5 assists and 1 penalty taken).
