FC Voluntari is set to compete against Universitatea Craiova in the second match of the day in the Romanian Cup. This encounter kicks off at 19:00 and will be broadcast live on Prima Sport 1 and Digi Sport 1, with real-time updates provided by reporters.
Currently, the Romanian champions, Universitatea Craiova, hold second place in Group D with 3 points, equal with tonight’s opponents.
UPDATE: 17:30 – Craiova Players Arrive at Voluntari
Approximately one and a half hours before the match, the Universitatea Craiova team bus arrived at the “Anghel Iordănescu” stadium in Voluntari. Notable absences for Craiova include Vladimir Screciu and Nicușor Bancu.
Match Details: FC Voluntari vs. Universitatea Craiova at 19:00
Click AICI for statistics.
Starting Lineups
FC Voluntari (5-4-1): E. Chioveanu – Mamic, Haruț, Cestic, D. Dumbrăvanu, Kiki – Schieb, M. Onișa, Roemeratoe, N. Santos – Ad. Chică-Roșă
Substitutes: Jurhar – I. Gheorghe, Merloi, Guțea, Al. Șuteu, R. Crișan, Cvek, M. Roman, I. Vencu
Coach: Florin Pîrvu
Universitatea Craiova (3-4-3): Sava – Al. Crețu, Roux, Stefanovic – Teles, Lameira, T. Băluță, Webster – Băsceanu, Elisor, Tavares
Substitutes: L. Popescu – Romanchuk, Nsimba, Al-Hamlawi, Baiaram, Mora, M. Rădulescu, Al. Cicâldău, D. Matei
Coach: Filipe Coelho
Stadium: Anghel Iordănescu (Voluntari)
Referee: Szabolcs Kovacs (Satu Mare)
Assistant Referee 1: Marica Mihai Marius (Bistrița-Năsăud)
Assistant Referee 2: Corb Ioan Alexandru (Satu Mare)
Reserve Referee: TERTELEAC Ana Maria Alexandra (Ilfov)
Referee Observer: Ioniță Andrei (București)
Delegate: Radu Victor Marius (București)
VAR Referee: Popa Cătălin Sorin (Argeș)
AVAR Referee: Rusandu Lucian-Claudiu (Covasna)
Match Preview: Key Facts Ahead of the Romanian Cup Game
FC Voluntari is currently struggling in the Superliga, sitting near the bottom of the table with only 8 points from 13 matches and coming off five consecutive losses. Their most recent defeat was a 1-2 loss to Csikszereda, a rival in the relegation battle.
Despite their poor league performance, FC Voluntari started their Romanian Cup journey successfully, winning 1-0 against Chindia Târgoviște in their opening match of the group stage.
Head coach Florin Pîrvu may choose to rotate his squad, giving opportunities to less utilized players as the team prioritizes improving their league standing.
In contrast, Universitatea Craiova boasts a strong and deep squad, enabling them to make several substitutions without sacrificing their competitiveness.
The disparity between the two teams is clear in the Superliga standings, with FC Voluntari at 15th place with 8 points, while Universitatea Craiova occupies second place with 29 points.
These teams last faced each other on August 23, during the sixth round of the Superliga, where Craiova emerged victorious with a 3-1 scoreline.
VIDEO: Filipe Coelho Announces Changes for the Match Against Voluntari
Coach Filipe Coelho indicated that several players who have not featured much recently will be included in the lineup against Voluntari. He noted, “This is another important match for us. We are coming off long trips and demanding matches that have drained our energy. We have attempted to recover many players.
We cannot take physical risks, but regardless of the circumstances, we must deliver our best and aim for the three points.
FC Voluntari is a good team, especially defensively. We only managed to score against them in the 45th minute during our last encounter, which was not an easy match, and tomorrow will be equally challenging.
We have worked to bring back players, but some have not fully recovered, and decisions must be made. We will give playing time to others. It will be a tough match, and we need to be serious to secure all three points,” said Coelho.
