Article by Ovidiu Ioanițoaia – Published on Sunday, 10 May 2026, 15:32 / Updated on Sunday, 10 May 2026 15:33
When there were practically only two teams left in the fight for the title, Universitatea Craiova and Universitatea Cluj, critical observations regarding their performances, which have been increasingly unconvincing lately, multiplied. Especially Craiova, once the practitioner of an exuberant, sparkling game, was the one targeted. Alex Barbu called her the “anti-football champion” the other day, and I compared her, no compliment!, to “CFR from the Dan Petrescu era”. In other words, with a minimalist team, pragmatic to the point of cynicism.
U Cluj was also criticized in the same style. Logical in the context in which the team coached by the Italian Bergodi beat Rapid on Saturday, 1-0 at the Cluj Arena, after a meeting during which they often suffered.
Despite the numerous absences, Rapid controlled part of the match, proof that it had 53% possession, superiority in shots (8-6) and corners (9-7), etc. No one would have been surprised if the game had ended in a draw.
However, the “Red Caps” managed to defend with their teeth, with enough emotions, the goal scored by Codrea in the 17th minute. He brought 3 extremely precious points, without which U would have walked away from the title.
The day before, Craiova didn't seduce in Gruia either, where they got a clean draw, necessary to stay in pole position. And thanks to which the paper calculation indicates her as the number 1 candidate for the final victory. In the idea that the direct and decisive duel with U Cluj will be played in Bănie.
Considering the incendiary atmosphere on “Oblemenco”, which will surely be filled to the brim, the Portuguese band Coelho starts as favourites.
However, in Gruia, at 0-0, she did not shine. Indeed, he held more of the ball, 52% possession, but he didn't even get a shot on goal! Neither did CFR, but it was expected that Bancu et Co, the leaders of the Superliga, would offer more. They didn't offer. Consequently, Alex Barbu's characterization fit like a glove. The “anti-football champion” achieved her goal, but not as much as her ardent supporters had hoped.
My opinion is that a change of attitude at the top of the ranking is noteworthy, not necessarily praiseworthy. Especially in Craiova, the most affected of them, in the sense that in these 35 years that have passed since the edition won in 1991, she was close to triumph on several occasions, but drowned at the shore.
This is why Craiova in particular, but also valid for U Cluj, no longer plays today to impress, to please, but to get points. As many points as possible. Because they make you a champion, not the beauty of the evolution, not the aesthetics. And this change in optics, new approach, must be seen as a sign of realism. If you want, of maturity, one that excludes the risk or at least reduces it.
This is not an excuse, it is an explanation at a time when fewer and fewer people are interested in the show and more and more are aiming for efficiency. It's not to be praised that it happens like this, but we can't ignore what we see either. That's why Craiova, and not only Craiova, ended up blowing yogurt. Does it seem to me that this is the way things are?
