Our team had a sub-par start in League 2, in a season of transition for the entire Politehnica Timisoara club. Instead, the white-violet team managed an admirable run in the Romanian Cup, where they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by first division FC Argeș after penalty kicks. Also, the last championship games of 2021 have shown a substantial improvement of the game and plenty of reasons for optimism for the spring season.

Politehnica is in 14th place with 20 points (18-22 record), tied with the next placed Viitorul Pandurii Tg. Jiu (goal. 15-19). All teams have played 16 games (rounds) so far. The play-off chances are still purely mathematical, as there are only three games left in the regular season. Dorin Toma was the head coach of the white-violet team between rounds 1-8, Antonio Foale took over in round 9 (2-0 score against Brăila) and Nicolae Croitoru took over as head coach from round 10.

As for the players’ statistics, it should be noted that only one player has been permanently present on the pitch in this (ongoing) League 2 season. We are talking about Nicolae Sofran, who is also among the few such protagonists at the level of the entire division. He was followed by Alin Ignea (1,337), Ioan Mera (1,260), Cristian Scutaru (1,251) and Rareș Lazăr (1,231). Interestingly, in addition to Sofran, Politehnica also has an “underage” player who played in every championship game – Doru Andrei.

In terms of goalscorers, the team’s current top scorer is Erik Gerbi, with 4 goals in League 2 plus one in the Romanian Cup – against Rapid. Note that the Italian striker arrived at the team after the 5th round. In terms of assists, position 1 is occupied by Alin Ignea, with three assists in the championship. There is an unusual aspect in terms of goals. Goalkeeper George Păduraru is one of only five goalkeepers in League 2 to have managed to save a penalty kick this season. In his case it was the penalty he saved in Giurgiu, in the last round of the year, in the beautiful 2-0 victory of the white-violet team, on the day of the Centenary celebration. What’s more, “Pădure” also has an assist – in Brasov (1-0).

With 18 goals scored so far, Politehnica’s offense is ninth in League 2. While the defence, with 22 goals conceded, is better only than that of four teams, all in the relegation zone, while Astra and Csikszereda have conceded the same number of goals. The most severe defeats were by three goals (0-3 in Cluj against “U” and 1-4 in Bucharest against Metaloglobus), while, as last season, the most clear victories, more in number, were by two goals.

Politehnica used a total of 26 players in the first part of the League 2 season. It should be noted that no less than three juniors born in 2004 (Tudor Moțiu, Daniel Olariu and Ervin Bakoș), all from Politehnica Academy, made their first official appearances for the senior team in the “autumn season”.

Below you can see the figures of the white-violet players in terms of matches, goals and minutes scored in League 2

Foto: Sebastian Tătaru