Politehnica Timisoara has another important match on Saturday at the “Electrica” stadium. In the second round of the C9 play-off, the Alb-viole receive Miner Lupeni, a team with which they are level on points at the top of the standings.

“All games are derbies in the play-offs, because they are the four best teams in the regular championship and then it is clear that every game is a derby. Indeed, if we look at the names, Politehnica – Lupeni, Lupeni has a history behind it too, where they had a team in the second league for a very long time, whereas the other two contenders have not yet got there and then we can see things like that. But Ghiroda has a very good team, so does Pecica, so they are all derbies“, said Cristian Gălan, head coach of Politehnicii Timișoara.

Minerul Lupeni and Progresul Pecica are the only teams to have come out with a positive record in their regular-season duels with the Albvioleleții. In the away games with the Hunedoreneri we recorded a 2-2 away draw, while Saturday’s guests won 1-0 in the return leg at the Electrica stadium.

“The facts of the matter have changed. We played them at a time when we were still developing and now we are, but then we were just starting, we played the first leg, then we played them again in the 10th leg as it were. It was maybe not our best moment. It certainly showed in the last match that two weeks ago in the championship we played Ghiroda, it was one game, and this match, the last one, was another game. It doesn’t matter,” said Cristian Gălan.

Politehnica Timisoara has not lost an official match since November 9. Last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Ghiroda ended a run of seven consecutive wins. “There’s no reason to lower morale, because we set out on this journey with one thought, that of trying to create a group and avoid relegation per se, besides, nobody expected us to perform miracles, but they worked and had the right results, now they are eight matches without defeat – 7 wins and a draw – and this draw cannot lower the team’s morale, because we are still talking about a draw, not a defeat, and we are talking about a draw against a good championship team. And I think it was a point we earned,” said Cristi Gălan.

Talking about the physical condition of the players, the coach added that there are small problems “…but we try to get the best players on the pitch at game time, both physically and technically-tactically, because these are difficult matches and everyone has to be ready for them“.

“We are expecting as many of them as possible at the stadium, because the boys need their support, every man does his bit to support the team and this is very important for them. We expect them to support us, we expect them to watch a beautiful game and at the end of the game we will be happy together!“, is the message of the Politehnica coach to the supporters.

The match Politehnica Timișoara – CS Minerul Lupeni will be played on Saturday, March 29, from 15:00, at Electrica Stadium, in the second round of the play-off of League 3, Series 9. Prior to this game, the Hunedorean team is in first place thanks to the league table after the first round of this phase of the championship. Both Poli and Minerul have collected 35 points so far.

Tickets for grandstand 2 can be purchased both online and at the stadium (from 2 p.m.). As seating in grandstand 1 is limited, tickets for this section will only be on sale at the stadium, one hour before kick-off, with a maximum of three tickets per person! We recommend early admission to avoid crowding at the gates. Spectators with disabilities have free access to the sidelines, while children up to the age of 12 and juniors registered with Academia Politehnica Timisoara have free entry to grandstand 2.

The game will be streamed on YouTube.com/PolitehnicaTimisoara1921

Photo: Paul Sebo