LIVE U Cluj – Craiova University, final of the Romanian Betano Cup

Universitatea Craiova and U Cluj, the teams fighting for the title of champion and who meet on Sunday in a match that can decide who wins the Superliga, are dueling in Sibiu for the Romanian Cup.

The starting teams at U Cluj – Craiova:

U Cluj: Gertmonas – Mikanovic, I. Cristea, Coubiș, Chipciu – Drammeh, Bic, Nistor – Macalou, Lukic, El Sawy
reserves: Lefter, Codrea, Trică, Capradossi, O. Mendy, Stanojev, Postolachi, G. Simion
Coach: Cristiano Bergodi

Craiova: L. Popescu – Romanchuk, Stevanovic, Screciu – Mora, T. Băluță, Cicâldău, Bancu – Băsceanu, Etim, Baiaram
reserves: Goncalves, F. Stefan, A. Crețu, Anzor, Al Hamlawi, M. Rădulescu, Mogoș, Teles, D. Matei
Coach: Filipe Coelho

Steven Nsimba is in Sibiu with the team, but he was left out of the squad by Filipe Coelho. GSP.ro sources say that he suffered a medical problem in the match with CFR Cluj, 0-0, and they did not want to force him. The striker had only one training session.

UPDATE. 19:10: Emil Boc, present in Sibiu

Emil Boc, the mayor of Cluj, is in Sibiu and went live on television an hour before the start of the match. Bet on Jovo Lukic tonight.

“The emotions are huge, of course, we came to Sibiu to bring the Cup to Someș. We are waiting for the home party. Craiova is the favorite, but the score at home does not match the one on the field. I want to tell you honestly, we want to thank the boys for the fabulous performance and for the journey so far. There are two finals, we enjoy every success.

That is why so many of us are here, to show them that we are with them. The first match is the hardest. We win it, then focus on the second one. Even though we are not favorites on paper, we have shown that we can make a difference. The 4-0 scoreline does not reflect the difference between the teams. I hope that Lukic will make the difference”, said Emil Boc, on the show “Fotbal Club”, from Digi Sport.

UPDATE at 18:10: U Cluj arrived at the stadium for the match with Craiova

Transylvanian players were the first to arrive at the stadium. Several fans waited for their favorites in front of the arena to cheer them on. Lukic, Nistor and Macalou were among the most acclaimed. The Oltenians also arrived after 15 minutes.

UPDATE at 18:00: U Cluj fans, procession to the stadium in Sibiu

The fans from U Cluj move in procession to the arena. “Better to die today than to lose. We represent Cluj, guys“, was the fighting message sent by the leader of the gallery. He had climbed onto a dumpster.

UPDATE at 17:30: Almost equal between U Cluj and Craiova at the betting houses

The bookmakers expect a very balanced match in Sibiu, and this can be seen in the odds offered by the betting agencies.

The odds for a Transylvanian victory vary between 2.77 and 2.95, depending on the agency. Bookmakers gave Craiova odds between 2.45 and 2.87.

UPDATE at 17:00| Craiova fans have arrived in the city center

Craiova fans have arrived in the city center and are singing the team's anthem.

UPDATE at 16:45 | Craiova's fans head towards the city centre

Accompanied by the gendarmerie, the Craiova fans head towards the center of Sibiu.

UPDATE at 16:25 | The train with Craiova fans has arrived in Sibiu

After more than 70 minutes delay, the train carrying Craiova fans arrived in Sibiu. The supporters waiting on the platform chanted “Everyone knows, the Cup is in Bănie”.

Mihai Rotaru, majority shareholder of the lions, is with the supporters. He traveled on the same train as the fans from Banie.

UPDATE at 16:00 | The train with Craiova fans has not reached Sibiu even now

Although it was initially 50 minutes, the delay of the train that will bring Craiova fans to Sibiu was extended to 70 minutes.

UPDATE at 15:05 | The train with Craiova fans is late

Although it was supposed to arrive at 15:05 in Sibiu Railway Station, the train with Craiova fans is 50 minutes late.

UPDATE at 14:30 | Mobilization of the Gendarmerie before the arrival of the Craiova fans

The strong mobilization of the Sibiu Gendarmerie has begun. Fences are being erected and colors are made especially for Craiova supporters. They no longer go directly to the main street and they have made them on a special route to the city center.

There are around 100 gendarmes waiting for the train.

UPDATE at 13:25 | Great silence in Piata Mare

Silence for the moment in Piața Mare in Sibiu, the meeting place for Cluj fans. At the moment there are only a few groups gathered at the terraces in the area.

UPDATE at 13:15 | Tense night before the final

Supporters of both teams tried to disrupt their opponents the night before the final by going to the hotels where the players were staying and using pyrotechnics to create noise and chaos.

First, the supporters of the University of Craiova acted around 01:00, and then, a few hours later, the supporters of the University of Cluj also responded, around 03:30.

UPDATE time 13:05 | Gendarmes, in positions at the Sibiu Railway Station

Two hours before the train with Craiova supporters arrived in Sibiu, the gendarmes set up positions near the station, waiting for them.

UPDATE at 12:00 | Who will interpret Romania's national anthem?

Before the Romanian Cup final, the national anthem will be performed by the Sibiu soprano Melinda Samson, a graduate of the “Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, currently a university lecturer at the “Lucian Blaga” University in Sibiu.

Melinda Samson / photo source: Facebook @ Cupa României Betano

UPDATE time 10:47 | Mihai Rotaru, with the supporters of Craiova on the way to Sibiu

A good part of the supporters who will support Craiova University tonight, in the final of the Romanian Cup, boarded the train bound for Sibiu, the city where the last act of the competition will be played.

They had a special colleague on this trip, Mihai Rotaru, the manager of the club, with whom they took a photo before boarding:

The blue-and-white supporters made their appearance at Craiova Station starting at 10:00 a.m., boarded the set specially reserved for this road and took the route to Sibiu, where they should arrive at 3:05 p.m., after stops at Balș, Piatra-Olt, Drăgășani and Râmnicu Vâlcea.

LIVE at 20:00 » U Cluj – Craiova University

What Cristiano Bergodi and Filipe Coelho said before U Cluj – Craiova University

For me it is pride, even if I didn't succeed. I was close to Craiova, I have beautiful memories there. I'm thinking about the cup match now.

The players are quiet. I have experienced players with a mix of young players. The team is prepared from all points of view. Fatigue has accumulated, but it's natural. The players feel no pressure. The Romanian Cup was a goal, but the championship was not.

The best teams reached the finals. Craiova is good, we are grandmothers. I think Craiova deserved to be here, it was consistent from the beginning. We came from behind, I didn't start the season here. The best teams also fight for the Cup and the championship. It's not easy, it never happened to me to play two matches against the same team, the Cup final and in 4 days the championship final.

– Cristiano Bergodi, U Cluj coach

If you look at the ranking, it is clear that we are talking about the two teams that are at the top of the SuperLiga hierarchy.

But that doesn't mean that the other teams that didn't make it here didn't deserve to be in this final, especially since Romanian football has good teams and very good coaches.

It would have been impossible to be in this situation, to fight for this trophy if it wasn't for the work of the previous 10 months.

It is the credit of the players in particular, the supporters who helped us in all the difficult moments and now we are in this situation of being one step away from getting the trophy.

This trophy can bring a lot of joy to the city, to the supporters, but we cannot forget the other side and the fact that the opponents want the same thing as us.

– Filipe Coelho, coach University of Craiova