Article by Maria Olteanu – Published on Sunday, 17 May 2026, 08:18 / Updated on Sunday, 17 May 2026 08:26
The University of Craiova has the chance tonight to become the champion of Romania and bring the title to Bănie after a break of three and a half decades. 30,000 people will be in the stands of the “Ion Oblemenco” stadium in an evening that the people of Olten dream of being historic. The preparations, before the match, will start in the city center, already in the afternoon.
Craiova is one point away in the standings from U Cluj before one game of a season. The derby in the 9th round of the play-off will be played in Bănie, from 20:30, and with a success the hosts can end any calculation in the fight for the title. A draw or a win for Cristiano Bergodi's team would ensure that the suspense is maintained until the last round, when Craiova travels to Giulesti, and U Cluj receives a visit from Dinamo at home.
Olten fans will fill the arena located on “Ilie Balaci” boulevard, but 4 and a half hours before the first whistle, they met in the city center, where the first preparations of the evening begin. “White night” is announced in the south of the country, if Filipe Coelho's students lift the trophy!
Craiova fans, in procession from the center to the stadium
Olten supporters are on a wave of enthusiasm, especially after their favorites managed to lift the Romanian Cup in Sibiu in the middle of the week, right in front of tonight's opponent.
The representatives from Peluza Nord, those who, in principle, supported the team in the final on the banks of the Cibin, announced on social networks the schedule for Sunday, before the title “final” with U Cluj.
The blue-white supporters met at 16:00, in the Old Center of the city, where they will stay until around 18:30, when they are scheduled to leave for the stadium.
At approximately 6:50 p.m., the area of the “Ciupercă” roundabout will be reached, where the fans will stop to wait for the coach, on its way from the training base to the stadium, a “ritual” that has already become a tradition at Craiova's home matches.
Craiova can open the champagne after 90 minutes
Olteni are only 90 minutes away from the title and have the chance to do the event in just 5 days, after the first victory of the week, in Sibiu.
And if they manage to impose themselves, after the match, the awards ceremony will also take place. “If Craiova wins Sunday's match, at the end of it we will organize, on the lawn, the awards ceremony, with the awarding of medals and the championship trophy”, sources told GSP ahead of the match.
It is the fourth season in which LPF offers this trophy, 58 cm high and 5.2 kg in weight, specially made at the State Mint. Made of a metal alloy specific to the mint and plated with silver, the trophy is inspired by themes and motifs specific to Romania, such as traditional motifs or the Column of Infinity.
The ranking from the Superliga play-off
