Hermannstadt - Fcsb Opens Final Relegation Fight In Superliga

Hermannstadt - Fcsb opened the final Superliga play-out round on 18 May 2026, one of two simultaneous matches set to decide the last direct relegation spot. Hermannstadt needed a better result than Unirea Slobozia to avoid dropping straight to Liga 2 and force a survival playoff against FC Voluntari.

Hermannstadt and Fcsb at 20:30

Hermannstadt started with Lazar, Căpușă, I. Stoica, Chorbadzhiyski, K. Ciubotaru, Balaure, Dr. Albu, Zargary, Neguț, Buș and Chițu in a 4-4-2. FCSB lined up with Târnovanu, Pantea, Ngezana, Duarte, Kiki, Arad, Lixandru, D. Popa, Alhassan, Oct. Popescu and Thiam in a 4-2-3-1, with Lucian Filip on the bench as interim coach.

That match kicked off at 20:30, the same time as Unirea Slobozia-UTA Arad. Ionuț Coza handled Hermannstadt-FCSB, while Horațiu Feșnic took charge of the other match.

Unirea Slobozia's last chance

Unirea Slobozia started with R. Popa, Ibrian, Orozco, Antoche, Șerbănică, Al. Albu, V. Pop, Dragu, Ponde, Dulcea and Said against UTA Arad, which named Gorcea, Iacob, Stolnik, Benga, Alomerovic, Hrezdac, Mino, Tzionis, Roman, Țăroi and M. Coman. Claudiu Niculescu had to chase a win; only that result would keep Slobozia from direct relegation.

Metaloglobus had already been mathematically relegated to Liga 2 before the final round, so the remaining direct drop came down to Hermannstadt and Unirea Slobozia. Slobozia also entered the day without a license for the next Superliga season, still waiting on a TAS decision, which left the table fight tied to an off-field question as well as the scoreline.

FC Voluntari in waiting

The team that avoided direct relegation would move into a survival playoff against FC Voluntari, so the two 20:30 matches carried the same consequence even though they were played separately. Dorinel Munteanu's Hermannstadt side had the simpler route: finish with a better result than Slobozia and the club stays alive for one more tie.

For readers tracking the bottom of the table, the practical split was narrow. Hermannstadt needed to outdo Slobozia on the night, while Slobozia needed a win against UTA Arad to stay out of the automatic drop and keep its season alive in the play-off path.