In our final match before the international break, our Superliga team will visit fourth-placed Petrolul Ploiești.

In our final match before the international break, our Superliga team will visit fourth-placed Petrolul Ploiești. Having had more time to rest and prepare since our previous league fixture, the team hopes to collect its first away point—or points—of the season on Monday evening.

We will bring Matchday 10 of the Superliga regular season to a close in Ploiești: on Monday, September 21, from 9 p.m., we will face Petrolul at the Ilie Oană Stadium. This will be our team’s final away trip before the international break.

Compared with the congested schedule of recent weeks, the coaching staff have had more than a week to prepare this time. Following the match against Dinamo Bucharest, the players were given a few days off before returning to work and preparing intensely for their next challenge. Head coach Szabó István believes the team needed this short period of recovery, both physically and mentally.

“We were very pleased to be able to give the players a few days off, which perhaps allowed everyone to reflect on the events of recent weeks. After that, we worked extremely hard, and I can honestly say that the team gave everything in training. The arrival of the new players has also clearly improved the quality of the squad. We are travelling to Petrolul aiming to collect a point—or points,” our head coach said.

Petrolul await us in good form

Monday’s opponents have collected 16 points from nine matches and go into the fixture sitting fourth in the table. Petrolul drew 2–2 away to reigning champions FCSB in the previous round, and their run of results shows that a difficult task awaits us at the Ilie Oană Stadium.

The Ploiești side strengthened their squad with several new players during the summer, while Portuguese coach Ricardo Sousa took charge of the team. According to Szabó István, Petrolul’s performances so far are no coincidence.

“Before the season began, we tried to assess every team in the league. Many people said Petrolul might find themselves near the bottom of the table, but they signed six players, appointed a Portuguese head coach and are now sitting in fourth place. They also played a very good match against FCSB in the previous round, so their run of results is certainly no coincidence. We will have to be at our very best to achieve a good result, but that is, of course, exactly why we are travelling to Ploiești,” Szabó István emphasised.

The condition of the pitch at the hosts’ stadium has also been a topic of discussion ahead of the match. Our head coach, however, made it clear that he does not intend to use the playing surface as an excuse.

“I have said from the beginning that I do not like excuses. There is no particular way to prepare for a pitch like that, and our opponents will also have to play on the same surface. My main concern is that nobody gets injured, because that would not be good for anyone,” he added.

Staying positive and hoping for a breakthrough

Our team sit 16th in the table with one point and have yet to collect a point away from home this season. Captain Veres Szilárd admitted that the lack of results has created a difficult situation, but the players are still trying to maintain a positive attitude in the dressing room.

“We are certainly not in an easy situation. We are trying to remain positive, however, because there is still a very long way to go in the league. We are doing everything we can, both in training and during matches, to start collecting points. Everyone knows that results are what truly create a good atmosphere, but we continue to approach every match with optimism and a positive mindset,” Veres Szilárd said.

According to the captain, Petrolul’s good form and the arrival of their new players mean the team must prepare for another tough encounter.

“We also played some fiercely contested matches against Petrolul last season, and none of them were easy. They have since brought in new players whom we have not faced before, but naturally we have followed their performances. They are in good form, so we are certainly expecting a very difficult match,” he added.

Both of our regular-season matches against Petrolul last season ended in 1–1 draws, while the Ploiești side recorded a 2–0 victory at the Ilie Oană Stadium in the play-out.

Expecting aggressive football and a special atmosphere

Pászka Lóránd also feels that the few days of rest, followed by an intensive period of preparation, were highly beneficial for the team. The defender hopes that the long-awaited breakthrough can come on Monday evening.

“It was very good to have a few days off, and I think everyone managed to recharge their batteries a little. We worked very well this week, everyone gave their all, and we trained hard so that we can finally bring home three points from an away match. I hope we can produce a good performance and play aggressively, because our opponents have a similar style when they are at home,” Pászka Lóránd said.

Our player believes the evening kick-off and the floodlights can create a special atmosphere, while the team must also shut out the pressure coming from the stands.

“Personally, I enjoy evening matches, as games under the floodlights always have a different atmosphere. We will see what condition the pitch is in and what kind of football it allows us to play. The atmosphere in Ploiești is always heated, and we are not particularly popular there, so we usually receive all kinds of reactions. However, we have to block all of that out and focus solely on ourselves and the task ahead. The team badly needs the three points, a positive boost and the confidence that could help us set out on the path we have always wanted to follow,” Pászka emphasised.

The Petrolul Ploiești–FK Csíkszereda match will take place at the Ilie Oană Stadium on Monday, September 21, from 9 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Digi Sport 1 and Prima Sport 1.

Come on, FK! Come on, Szereda! Come on, Székelyföld!