9 black days! Humiliated by CFR Cluj as well, FCSB failed their goals in the first 3 official matches of 2026!

Play-off chances continue to drop drastically. The champion is in 10th place, and the distance to 6th place is 5 points.

Chronicle by Sergiu Alexandru: Another night of nightmare for FCSB! Also humiliated by CFR Cluj, the champion seems to have forgotten football in 2026 and is trembling for the play-offs

After two matches in which they disappointed their fans, FCSB hoped that the match against CFR Cluj would be the one in which they show their champion face and live up to expectations. And the first half hour looked like that.

What a start!

The red-blues started the match brilliantly, and in the 2nd minute David Miculescu opened the scoring. After a phase started by Târnovanu and continued by Olaru and Bîrligea, the ball reached the left lane to Cisotti, who crossed into the box. The CFR defense stuttered the ball and could not reject it, and the ball bounced to Miculescu, who beat the debutant Popa with a first-time shot, from 11 meters.

In the next phase, when the announcer was just announcing the goal, FCSB went past 2-0. Olaru shot almost perfectly from 18 meters, but the ball went over after clearing the bar.

Occasions really take their revenge

Until the 20th minute, FCSB continued to attack, but Olaru, Bîrligea several times and Toma did not change the scoreboard. At the other gate, Cordea and Aliev show the first signs of life, but Târnovanu is on duty. The last 15 minutes of the first half brought three phases that completely changed the fate of the match.

First, Mihai Toma missed incredibly. After Popa rejected Miculescu's shot, the ball reached Toma, who from 10 meters, with an empty goal, shot well over.

Then, the adage that opportunity takes revenge came true once again. This is because CFR Cluj turned the score around in 4 minutes. First, Alibek Aliev scored the first goal for Transylvania. After a phase that did not announce much, Păun found Aliev excellently, and he beat Târnovanu with a shot placed in the long corner, from 7 meters.

Then, Meriton Korenica made it 2-1, in the 45th minute. A deep pass, over the red-blue defense, found Korenica alone, 20 meters away. He entered the box and beat Târnovanu with an elegant kick.

Cordea sends FCSB to the play-out, with help from Ngezana

The beginning of the second half was as strong as the first part, only the roles were reversed. And CFR Cluj was the one who gave the blow. Cordea was found with a perfect pass behind Radunovic and took advantage of Ngezana forgetting to go offside. Aerian, the South African defender was extremely bad in the field, far behind his colleagues and kept Cordea in the game. And the former red-blue winger scored with a shot from 14 meters, past Târnovanu, who also accidentally missed 11 meters from the goal.

Two winces

Under the threat of a third defeat in a row in 2026, FCSB has not shown much sign that in the last two seasons it has dominated Romanian football and played evenly with its opponents in the Europa League. In the end, the red-blues had two more opportunities.

Octavian Popescu found himself with a ball 6 meters from the goal, with no opponent around, but he shot weakly, and Mihai Popa rejected and maintained the two-goal advantage. A few minutes later, Stoian shot from 25 meters, and Popa put it under the bar.

FCSB is trembling for the play-offs

The last 15 minutes were played at a pace that was to the liking of the Transylvanians, with many interruptions and no opportunities at Popa's goal. Moreover, CFR Cluj also struck, in the 83rd minute. After a fixed phase and a stutter in the red-blue defense, the ball ended up in front of the goal, from where Muhar sent it into the net. But the goal was disallowed for goal.

It ended 3-1, and FCSB is seriously shaking for the play-offs. It is in 10th place, 5 points from 6th place and was just overtaken by CFR Cluj, which reached 32 points, with one more than the red-blues.

Ngezana blunders, FCSB humiliated again!

The final score was decided in overtime. After another blunder by Ngezana, who lost the physical duel with Biliboc, at the edge of the box, and he beat Târonvanu. It's over and FCSB is seriously shaking for the play-offs. It is in 10th place, 5 points from 6th place and has just been overtaken by CFR Cluj, which reached 32 points, with one more than the red-blues.

And FCSB reaches 3 defeats in a row for 9 nine days.

FINAL. FCSB – CFR Cluj 1-4

• HERE live + Statistics

• 5297 spectators watch the match at the National Arena, official number

• They scored: Miculescu (2) / Aliev (41), Korenica (45), Cordea (49), Biliboc (90+1)

Min. 90+1: Biliboc also scores. The youngster takes advantage of a comical mistake by Duarte and scores.

Min. 90: 6 minutes of extra time is shown on the sideline. The CFR is also on the offensive.

Min. 88: The people from Cluj are much more aggressive and don't let the people from Bucharest get close to the goal.

Min 84. FCSB fans lost their patience. “If you don't play football, leave Steaua”, chanted those from Peluza Nord

Min. 76: Stoian shoots under the crossbar, but Popa manages to get it out.

Min. 65: Miculescu exits, Octavian Popescu enters.

Min. 60: CFR dominates the party territorially. FCSB can no longer get close to Popa's goal.

Min. 49: Terrible start to the half for FCSB. Cordea receives a perfect pass for Paun and scores with a shot to the short corner.

The second half has begun! FCSB made two changes: Pantea and Toma left, Radunovic and Stoian entered.

Min. 45: CFR turns the score in 4 minutes. Matei Ilie sends a long ball for Korenica, who goes behind Crețu and manages a superb “ladder”, over Târnovanu.

Min. 41: CFR equalises! Alibek Aliev catches a superb pass from Păun, remains alone with Târnovanu and defeats him in cold blood.

Min. 32: Double opportunity for FCSB. Miculescu is left alone with Popa, he fails to beat him, then Toma shoots over with an empty goal in front.

Min. 22: Târnovanu excellently takes two heavy shots sent by Cordea and Aliev, respectively.

Min. 21: A new opportunity for FCSB. Bîrligea passes the ball between the legs of Sinyan in the box, then shoots over.

Min. 20: Toma sets the ball up for Pantea, and his shot is woeful.

Min. 17: Bîrligea is looking for the link in the box, but the ball goes way past.

Min. 14: Big opportunity for FCSB! Olaru passes superbly for Toma, the young man enters the box and shoots, but does not beat Popa.

Min. 11: Korenica shoots from distance, the ball is cushioned by Cisotti and reaches the arms of Târnovanu.

Min. 4: FCSB, close to 2-0. After a beautiful phase, Olaru shot from the edge of the box, and the ball hit the bar.

Min. 2: Goal FCSB! The ball luckily reaches David Miculescu, who slips it into the net. The ball went to the middle of the goal, but Popa failed to intervene.

The game has started!

FCSB – CFR Cluj, starting teams:

FCSB: Târnovanu – V. Crețu, Ngezana, Duarte, Pantea – Cisotti, Alhassan – Miculescu, Olaru, M. Toma – Bîrligea
reserves: Udrea, Zima, Graovac, Dawa, Kiki, Lixandru, Politic, Radunovic, Oct. Popescu, A. Stoian, Thiam, D. Popa
Coach: Elias Charalambous

CFR Cluj: M. Popa – Kun, Sinyan, M. Ilie, Camora – Paun, T. Keita, Djokovic – Cordea, Aliev, Korenica
reserves: Valceanu, Gal, Abeid, Braun, Masic, Muhar, Perianu, Fică, Sfaiț, Biliboc, Slimani
Coach: Daniel Pancu

Two debuts tonight, one for each team. Andre Duarte (central defender), from FCSB, will play the first match in the new team's jersey, as will Mihai Popa, the starter in CFR's goal.

Stadium: National Arena
Referee: Marian Barbu // ASSISTANT: Mihai Marica, Ferencz Tunyogi
VAR Referee: Adrian Cojocaru // Assistant VAR: Sebastian Gheorghe

UPDATE. 19:45: Mihai Stoica, before FCSB – CFR Cluj: “We have to sing at the end with Peluza Nord”

Mihai Stoica, the official of the champion, offered statements from the pitch before the match:

“Peluza Nord gave us another lesson of belonging to these colors. As I humbly received it, I hope the players will also receive it and be able to sing at the end of the match with Peluza Nord. I don't think there will be another match that will be left without reproach if it is not won.”

UPDATE. 19:40: The debutant Duarte, the most applauded player at FCSB

On his debut, Andre Duarte received a special welcome from the fans present at the Arena. He was the most applauded footballer of the hosts when the announcer introduced the teams.

UPDATE. 19:30: CFR Cluj came out first for the warm-up, then FCSB

The players from CFR Cluj came out first in the warm-up. The people of Transylvania received a few loud boos from the 40-50 ultras from Peluza Nord. After 5 minutes, the hosts came out, to the applause of the same fans. The stands have started to fill up, but a reduced attendance is announced.

UPDATE. 19:25: Those from CFR Cluj appeared with the new sponsor on the equipment

Zerobet, a betting house with physical and online presence in Romania, is the new sponsor of Transylvania. His insignia appeared for the first time on CFR equipment.

UPDATE. 18:50: The first fans start entering the National Arena

The gates of the country's biggest stadium have opened. The first fans started to enter the National Arena and take their seats in the two stands.

UPDATE. 18:40: FCSB players also came out on the pitch

FCSB players also came out on the pitch, facing the cold without any problems. Duarte, Birligea, Dawa, Cisotti, Miculescu and Pantea are the bravest, without a jacket on 3 degrees Celsius.

UPDATE. 18:30: Those from CFR Cluj went out to inspect the field before the match with FCSB

An hour and a half before the start, the CFR delegation arrived at the stadium, and the players went directly to the lawn to make contact with the playing surface.

UPDATE. 18:00: It's raining through the ceiling of the National Arena before FCSB – CFR Cluj

Cracks in the ceiling of the National Arena caused raindrops to form puddles in the box area.

UPDATE. 17:50: Heavy fog at the National Arena

Two and a half hours before the start, the fog settles on the National Arena. The lawn is in very good condition. Thermometers indicate 0 degrees Celsius in Bucharest at the moment.

UPDATE. 17:25: FCSB and CFR Cluj have dominated Romanian football in the last two decades

Today's two opponents are the most successful Romanian teams of the last two decades. Together they collected no less than 31 trophies, including 15 titles. More details, HERE.

The hegemony of FCSB and CFR Cluj » 31 trophies and 342 European matches in the last two decades: today they fight for a place in the play-offs // photomontage: Diana Vasilescu (GSP)