FOOTBALL Forget the Cluj match and wake up! If you don’t do it, demote – Ziarul de Iasi

Taking into account the fact that the duel with Arad will be the third in nine days for the hosts, the focus will be on keeping the state of freshness, absolutely necessary at this rough end of the season. In this chapter, Poli has an advantage, the opponents have an even busier schedule this week, with matches on Monday, in Ploiești, and on Thursday, at home, against the uncomfortable Oțelul Galați.

What does the basement pitch boiler look like?

Another important element in the equation of Sunday’s confrontation is the pressure of the result, a chapter in which the visitors are better. Poli is in great need of victory in the conditions in which, after the failure with U, a natural consequence of the disastrous evolution, it has only one point left in front of a position that can be directly relegated. Iași has 21 points, just like FC Botoşani, which, like Politehnica, is in the play-off spot, Kodaşele, Dinamo and FC U Craiova 1948 accounting for 20 and 19 points, respectively. However, all four clubs in the last places are also thinking about the direct rescue, given that FC Voluntari, the last team above the “red line”, has 22 points. During this time, UTA looks at the dispute more casually, the Transylvanians having no emotions related to the Second League.

Rednic returns to Copou

From a herd point of view, there is good news coming from Copou. With the exception of Luca Mihai, who ended the season after the hit received from Dynamo Homawoo in the match of the IV stage of the play-out, all the players from Iași are fit to play.
The duel of the technical benches will be interesting, between a cruel coach, Anthony “Tony” Da Silva, and the “fox” Mircea Rednic, a seasoned technician, with many trophies in his record, who was also at the Politehnica for a while.

Last but not least, the contribution of the public will also count in the equation of the match, everyone from Politehnica, bosses, coaches, players, calling on the fans to encourage the team. This even if the match will almost certainly have moments in which it will be dominated by the people of Arad, who played very well away from home, the “Old Lady” not losing outside of Arad in the second phase of the championship.

Attitude can make the difference

Decisive for the fate of the party, however, could be the attitude. If Iași play as they did in the previous home match, 3-1 against FC Voluntari last Saturday, Tony’s team will have a solid chance of winning if they don’t make huge individual mistakes , she will have no bad luck and there will be no capital refereeing errors against her. If, instead, it will run like in Cluj, regardless of how poorly UTA will perform, Politehnica will risk not winning and, thus, seriously complicating its situation before the end of the season which also includes matches in Sibiu, with FC Hermannstadt, and with Petrolul Ploiesti, at home.
In the regular season, Poli and UTA shared their points, both winning 1-0 at home.

The probable formations

Poli: Lung – Todoroski, F. Ilie, Samayoa, Ispas – Marchioni, Bordeianu – Stefanovici, Roman, Bettaieb – Buș.
UTA: F. Iacob – Capușa, Stolnik, Conte, D. Rodrigues – Micovschi, C. Mihai, Freitas, Omondi – Luckkasen, Ezekiel.

Here is the schedule of the other matches of the 7th round of the second phase of the championship.

play out
Dinamo Bucharest – FC Voluntari (Friday, 20:00). FC U 1948 Craiova – Cluj-Napoca University (Saturday, 17:30). Oțelul Galati – FC Hermannstadt (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.). Petrolul Ploiești – FC Botoșani (Monday, 17:30).

playoffs
FCSB – Farul Constanța (Saturday, 8:30 p.m.). CFR Cluj – Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe (Sunday, 21:00). Rapid Bucharest – Craiova University (Monday, 8:30 p.m.).