Mihai Popa Starts for FCSB in Csikszereda Vs Fcsb
csikszereda vs fcsb opened with a clear selection call in Harghita: FCSB started Mihai Popa in goal, while Ștefan Târnovanu stayed on the bench for the Superliga match on 1 May 2026. The lineups gave both clubs’ plans away before the 20:30 kickoff.
Csikszereda entered round 7 needing points in a hurry. Robert Ilyeș said three points would be close to direct safety and would almost remove the relegation playoff from the equation.
Csikszereda’s Home Pressure
Csikszereda lined up in a 4-1-4-1 with Pap behind Paszka, Palmeș, Csuros, Trif, Vegh, Ceara, Vereș, Bodo, Loeper and Eppel. Ilyeș was listed as the coach, and his pre-match remarks were blunt: “Ne pregătim ca la fiecare meci. Așteptăm cu mare răbdare această partidă. Pe noi ne interesează punctele. Fie că jucăm bine sau mai puțin bine, cel mai important este să ieșim învingători, dacă se poate, și să visăm că rămânem în prima ligă, evitând inclusiv barajul.”
He also pointed to home form. “Anul acesta nu a reușit nimeni să ne învingă acasă, suntem puternici pe teren propriu,” he said, adding that “Trei puncte ar însemna, în proporție de 99%, salvarea inclusiv de la baraj.” Csikszereda had not lost at home in 2026 before this match, with the lone home league defeat in the last 14 at that ground coming on 6 December 2025, a 2-0 loss to FC Argeș.
FCSB’s Rotation In Harghita
FCSB responded with a 4-2-3-1 and M. Popa in goal, backed by Crețu, Dawa, M. Popescu, Radunovic, Fl. Tănase, Joao Paulo, Cisotti, Olaru, Oct. Popescu and Miculescu. Lucian Filip was listed as interim coach, and the bench call on Târnovanu showed a change at a position that usually draws attention first.
Filip framed the trip in straightforward terms. “Întâlnim o echipă periculoasă, care pierde destul de puține meciuri acasă,” he said. He added, “Faptul că am câștigat meciul trecut ne-a adus o săptămână normală, bună,” and “Cred că ei se luptă mai mult pentru evitarea barajului de retrogradare, în timp ce noi avem alte obiective.”
That split in objectives sat at the center of the matchday picture. Csikszereda were chasing survival, while FCSB were preparing for the Conference League playoff after dropping points against play-out teams during the season. The starting lineups showed both coaches choosing clarity over experimentation in a game that mattered on different levels to each side.
