Article by Mihai Mironică – Published on Tuesday, 07 April 2026, 10:27 / Updated on Tuesday, 07 April 2026 10:33
Although it seemed the most balanced playoff in the history of this system in the Romanian championship, with all 6 teams with more or less hidden title aspirations, after only 3 stages it lost this aura. In fact, we are going back to the days with two detached candidates, like when FCSB was fighting in the playoffs for the title with either CFR, Farul/Viitorul or Astra. Or like when Craiova contested a “final” for the title even with CFR.
Craiova reached the rematch season after that huge disappointment during the pandemic when CFR stole the title right in Oltenia. Now, Craiova takes CFR out of the Cup and also out of the race for the Super League trophy. Coelho's team clearly defeated CFR, simply showing that they are better armed in every way.
Irimescu by right
First of all, Craiova showed tonight that it has a true Irimescu'. Anzor reminded us, those of us who caught the golden times of our football, of the famous bomber of Craiova Maxima who broke the nets from appreciable distances. To see in the same match two such sublime executions as those of the Georgian, the cross and then the goal, is something really special.
Before the break for the national team matches, Daniel Pancu told us that Lorenzo the Magnificent Biliboc is the best attacking player in the SuperLigă. However, the CFR youngster was now eclipsed by Craiova's “under”, Matei, but also by Al Hamlawi and Mora, the creators of another wonderful goal for the University. But not only the much-lauded Biliboc suffered this, but all the CFR players.
University of Craiova – CFR Cluj / Photo: Criti Preda GSP
The perfect Easter gift
Florin Ștefan covered very well the absence of a colossus for this Craiova, Bancu. The 3 central defenders of the hosts blocked CFR's attack excellently and, when they were overtaken, Popescu came out like lightning and closed Cordea's angle. And I can imagine Pancu's frustration when he saw what “heavies” like Nsimba, Baiaram, Teles or Băluță were coming from the University bench, while his alternatives were far from an impact force.
I like Pancu's speech about football and, implicitly, I appreciated his frankness when he recognized the clear superiority of Craiova not only in this game, but in general, as a strength of the team.
Only U Cluj can rise to the level of Oltenia Force One. In addition to the two Universities, well padded with values in the first 11 and on the bench, the other formations are high schools, Rapid and CFR, or general schools, Argeș and Dinamo. The clash between U Cluj and Craiova in the next round is the perfect Easter gift for SuperLiga fans.
