Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Friday, May 15, 2026 8:57 p.m. / Updated Friday, May 15, 2026 9:11 p.m.
SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea is the second mathematically promoted team in League 2, after beating Academica Balș without emotions, score 3-0, in the penultimate stage of the play-off in League 3.
Valceni needed only one point to officially ensure their promotion in the second echelon of Romanian football, but they turned the match into a victory on “no-show score”.
Râmnicu Vâlcea returns to League 2
The hosts opened the scoring just before the break, through Lemac. In the second half, Vâlcea started perfectly and doubled their advantage a few minutes after the restart, when Salcianu made it 2-0. Until the end, the Valcenians scored once more and closed the game 3-0.
At the same time, the main pursuer, Craiova II University, won 4-0 on the field of Vulturii Fărcășești, but the Olteni team needed the team from Râmnicu Vâlcea to lose in order to hope for direct promotion.
The last important period for Vâlcean football ended in 2017, when the city's representative team withdrew from League 2 due to financial problems and lack of support.
However, the clubs from Râmnicu Vâlcea have had important moments in Romanian football over time. The biggest performance remains winning the Romanian Cup in the 1972-1973 seasonwhen Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea won the trophy after replaying the final with Constructorul Galati. The city also had European presences, ticking off participation in the Cup Winners' Cup in 1973against the Northern Irish from Glentoran Belfast.
Also, the best ranking in the first league for a team from Râmnicu Vâlcea was 8th place, obtained at the end of the 1981-1982 season.
Ranking of Group 3 from League 3 // PHOTO: Flashscore
Poli Timisoara, the first team promoted to League 2
The first team to mathematically secure promotion to League 2 was Politehnica Timișoara. The players from Banat obtained the tickets for the second echelon since the last stage, even if they later lost to Zalău, score 0-1.
In the other series, the fight for promotion remains open before the final stage, with all games to be played on Saturday. In the 2nd Group, three teams have a chance for direct promotion: Popești Leordeni and Ștefănești are tied, with 23 points each, Flacăra Moreni has 20 points, and Agricola Borcea is in fourth place, with 18 points. All will evolve on Saturday.
