Politehnica Timisoara conclude the play-off phase of League 3, Series 9, edition 2024-25, with a trip to Pecica, at Progresului. The Alb-violeleții would secure their first place if they get at least a draw, so they would no longer depend on the result of Lupeni, between Minerul and CSC Ghiroda.

Having already qualified for the semi-finals of the promotion play-off for promotion to League 2, our team wants to win the series for a theoretically easier run thereafter.

“We are approaching it exactly as we have done so far, to win, because we can’t do otherwise, we have to play to win this game. The 1st place in the standings for this part of the championship offers a return game at home, it’s a very important thing in a double leg. We know that we have a very difficult game coming up because all the games we’ve played against Progresul Pecica have been very hard, tough, high intensity games and we know that we are in for such a game. At the same time it’s good that we have such a game before the play-off, because we have to be 100% prepared to face the difficulty of a good opponent“, said Cristian Gălan, the head coach of Politehnicii Timisoara.

“We’ve got guys who came into training this week. We have others who are still feeling aches and pains, we are trying to put the best players we have on the field for the game against Pecica, because it is very important to have a good rhythm of the game, it is very important to raise the level of intensity and then we won’t be leaving players on the bench, we will play exactly as we should play an official match“, emphasized the coach of the White-Violets.

Even in Series 10 things are not completely clear ahead of the last round. If Minaur Baia Mare won the series and will face the second place in Series 9, CSM Olimpia Satu Mare and SCM Zalău are still fighting for the second position in C10. The latter has two points to make up and would have the advantage in a draw with the Salatmăren. Round 9 programs the games CSM Olimpia SM – Minaur BM, respectively SCM Zalău – Crișul Sântandrei.

“I saw some games. I haven’t seen any games live, I’ve seen some recorded games, which can be found on streaming platforms, where there are matches. We watched the opponents’ games, but we’re still a little bit in a bit of a spot… we still don’t even know which one we’re going to play if we finish first. And we don’t have the 1st place secured either, we have to work for it on Friday and I think at the end of Friday’s game we can have a clearer picture of what’s to come!”, concluded Cristian Gălan.

The match Progresul Pecica – Politehnica Timisoara will be played on Friday, May 16, at 18.00, in the ninth (last) round of the play-off League 3. The Alb-viole are leaders with 48 points, two more than second-placed Minerul Lupeni, who are also ahead in the event of a tie due to their position at the end of the regular season (first tie-breaker in the event of a tie). Progresul Pecica is in 4th place with 36 points.

The previous championship duels between the two teams were very close: 1-1 at home, 0-1 away defeat (in the regular season) and two 1-0 wins for Poli in the play-offs!

The promotion play-off semi-finals are scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 and Saturday, May 24.