FCSB began the new Superliga season against FC Argeș on 17 July 2026 with a lineup that immediately stood out: an improvised midfield, a 4-2-3-1 shape, and a bench made up almost entirely of under-21 players. In a match that was supposed to mark the start of another title push, the most notable detail was how thin the squad looked in central areas.
The setup was unusual because FCSB had four specialist holding midfielders in the squad, but none were available for this opener in Ghencea. That forced the team to use players in roles outside their strongest positions and made the midfield picture look very different from what the club had planned for the start of the campaign.
A short bench and limited options
The bench was even more striking. FCSB had only one senior player among the reserves, with the rest of the matchday bench filled by under-21 options. For a club that enters every season expecting to compete for the title, that kind of composition is not typical, especially in a first match when teams usually want as many experienced options available as possible.
The absence of the club’s specialist midfielders meant the coaching staff had to make quick adjustments before kickoff. The article’s key point is not just that FCSB lacked depth for one game, but that the shortage was concentrated in one of the most important areas of the field. When a team is missing its defensive midfield options, the effects are felt in both buildup play and defensive protection.
What Mihai Stoica said
Mihai Stoica addressed the wider title race as well, and his view was clear. He said he wanted to keep himself motivated after Craiova’s recent strong form, but he also said Craiova is not the favorite for the title. In Stoica’s words, FCSB are the title favorites, “without discussion,” as long as the club finishes the transfers it has planned.
That comment fits the broader context around the opener. Ownership and management still see FCSB as the team to beat, even if the squad for this match looked far from full strength. The contrast between the title-favorite label and the heavily improvised lineup is what made this season opener stand out.
Why it matters
For FCSB, the opening against FC Argeș was less about one match and more about what it revealed about the squad at the start of the season. The team still has the expectations that come with being considered the favorite, but the first game showed how quickly a normal plan can become complicated when unavailable midfield specialists leave the coach with limited choices.
It also reinforced the importance of depth. If FCSB are going to justify Stoica’s confidence, they will need the planned transfers to arrive and the squad to become more balanced. Until then, the opening XI and the bench in Ghencea were a reminder that even title contenders can begin a season in an awkward position.
