Preview: Concord Chiajna Hosts Botosani in Cupa României Clash

BUCHAREST, Romania (Interstat) — Concord Chiajna will host FC Botosani on Thursday in a Round of 16 match in the Cupa României, Romania’s premier domestic cup competition.

The fixture at Concord Chiajna’s stadium pits a home side seeking consistency against a visiting squad looking to rebound from a disappointing league result.

Chiajna enters the cup tie following a mixed run of form. Its most recent outing was a 3-1 away defeat to Sepsi OSK on Dec. 12. However, the team has shown flashes of capability, including a 3-0 victory over Dinamo Bucuresti on Dec. 2 and a 2-1 win against the same opponent in early November. Its form has been uneven, with three losses in its last five matches across all competitions.

Botosani arrives after a tough 3-1 home loss to Hermannstadt on Dec. 3. Prior to that, the team managed a 1-1 draw with Farul Constanta on Oct. 30 and recorded two victories over CSM Unirea Alba Iulia in late August. The defeat to Hermannstadt marked a setback in what had been a more defensively resilient period.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is a 2-0 victory for Concord Chiajna.

The winner of Thursday’s match will advance to the quarterfinals of the Cupa României. For Chiajna, the cup represents a focal point as it navigates a busy schedule. Following the Botosani match, Chiajna’s next fixture is a league game against sC Corvinul on Feb. 21.

The match is scheduled for a 5 p.m. local time kickoff on Feb. 12.