2020–21 Liga I

The 2020–21 Liga I (also known as Casa Liga 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the 103rd season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season started on 20 August 2020 and is scheduled to end in late-spring 2021.[1] It is the sixth to take place since the play-off/play-out rule has been introduced, and the first since the 2005–06 season to feature 16 teams. CFR Cluj are the three-time defending champions.

Liga I
Season2020–21
Dates20 August 2020 – TBD
Matches played119
Goals scored301 (2.53 per match)
Top goalscorerDennis Man
(12 goals)
Best goalkeeperOctavian Vâlceanu
(10 clean sheets)
Biggest home winFCSB 5–0 Hermannstadt
(26 October 2020)
Biggest away winUTA Arad 0–6 Astra Giurgiu
(21 December 2020)
Highest scoringPolitehnica Iași 5–2 FCSB
(27 September 2020)
Longest winning run7 matches
FCSB
Longest unbeaten run7 matches
FCSB
Longest winless run9 matches
Politehnica Iași
Longest losing run5 matches
Politehnica Iași
All statistics correct as of 22 December 2020.

The play-off/play-out rule was also changed, the first six teams at the regular season will qualify for the play-off tournament and the last 10 for the play-out. The first 6 teams will play two matches against each other (as before), but in the play-out, the teams will play only one match against each other. At the end of the play-out first two places (7th and 8th) will play a single match on the ground of the 7th place ranked team, subsequently the winner will play against the last team ranked on a UEFA Europa Conference League spot in the play-off, only the winner of this second encounter will qualify for UEFA Europa Conference League.[2]

The teams ranked 15th and 16th at the end of the play-out tournament will be relegated directly to the Liga II, on the other hand, the 13th and 14th places will play a promotion/relegation play-off against 3rd and 4th places from Liga II.[2]

Teams

The league consists of 16 teams: 13 from the 2019–20 Liga I, two teams from the 2019–20 Liga II, and the winner of the 2019–20 promotion/relegation play-off.

Teams promoted to the Liga I

The first club to be promoted was UTA Arad, following their 1–1 draw against FC Argeș on 2 August 2020. UTA returned in the Liga I after 12 years of absence.[3]

The second club to be promoted was FC Argeș, following their 1–1 draw against UTA Arad on 2 August 2020. FC Argeș returned in the Liga I after 11 years of absence.[4]

Teams relegated to the Liga II

No teams were relegated from the 2019–20 Liga I.

Initially, two clubs would have been relegated at the end of the 2019–20 Liga I season, with a third playing a relegation play-off with the 3rd-placed team from the 2019–20 Liga II. The first club to have been relegated would have been Chindia Târgoviște, following a 0–1 defeat on 2 August 2020 against Politehnica Iași, ending their 1-year stay in the top flight.[5] However, owing to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the previous season, the league table was frozen on 6 August 2020[6] and no teams were directly relegated. Instead, Chindia Târgoviște played a promotion/relegation play-off against CS Mioveni and kept their Liga I spot after a 3–1 aggregate result.

Venues
Dinamo București FCSB Universitatea Craiova CFR Cluj
Arena Națională Arena Națională Ion Oblemenco Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Capacity: 55,634 Capacity: 55,634 Capacity: 30,929 Capacity: 23,500
Chindia Târgoviște FC Argeș UTA Arad Politehnica Iași
Ilie Oană[lower-roman 1] Nicolae Dobrin Francisc von Neuman Emil Alexandrescu
Capacity: 15,073 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 12,700 Capacity: 11,390
Astra Giurgiu
Gaz Metan Mediaș
Marin Anastasovici Gaz Metan
Capacity: 8,500 Capacity: 7,814
FC Botoșani Sepsi OSK
Municipal Municipal
Capacity: 7,782 Capacity: 5,200
Hermannstadt Voluntari Viitorul Constanța Academica Clinceni
Municipal Anghel Iordănescu Viitorul Clinceni
Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 4,600 Capacity: 4,554 Capacity: 4,500
  1. Chindia Târgoviște was relocated to Ilie Oană Stadium in Ploiești, because Eugen Popescu Stadium in Târgoviște is under renovations.

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Academica Clinceni Ilie Poenaru Răzvan Patriche Joma Nicmar Prima Service
FC Argeș Ionuț Moșteanu Andrei Prepeliță Macron Primăria Pitești, Getica 95
Astra Giurgiu Eugen Neagoe Constantin Budescu Joma Tinmar Energy
Botoșani Marius Croitoru Jonathan Rodríguez Erreà Elsaco
CFR Cluj Edward Iordanescu Mário Camora Nike NTT Data
Chindia Târgoviște Emil Săndoi Cristian Cherchez Joma Consiliul Judetean Dambovita
Dinamo București Ionel Gane Ante Puljić Macron Unibet
FCSB Anton Petrea Florin Tănase Nike City Insurance
Gaz Metan Mediaș Jorge Costa Nicolao Dumitru Joma Romgaz
Hermannstadt Rubén Albés Ousmane Viera Joma Superbet, Natur House
Politehnica Iași Daniel Pancu Andrei Cristea Joma Superbet
Sepsi OSK Leontin Grozavu Rachid Bouhenna Adidas Diószegi, Gyermelyi
Universitatea Craiova Corneliu Papura Nicușor Bancu Puma Betano
UTA Arad László Balint Ciprian Rus Saller Efbet, International Alexander Holding
Viitorul Constanța Mircea Rednic Gabriel Iancu Nike OMV Petrom
Voluntari Mihai Teja Pablo de Lucas Macron Winner

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Politehnica Mircea Rednic End of contract 7 August 2020[7] Pre-season Daniel Pancu 11 August 2020[8]
Viitorul Gheorghe Hagi Mutual agreement 7 August 2020 Pre-season Rubén de la Barrera 7 August 2020[9]
Dinamo Gheorghe Mulțescu Mutual agreement 26 August 2020[10] 7 Cosmin Contra 26 August 2020[11]
Gaz Metan Mediaș Dušan Uhrin Jr. Sacked 24 September 2020[12] 6 Jorge Costa 30 September 2020[13]
Universitatea Craiova Cristiano Bergodi Sacked 7 November 2020 1 Corneliu Papura 13 November 2020
Viitorul Rubén de la Barrera Sacked 30 November 2020 7 Mircea Rednic 2 December 2020
CFR Cluj Dan Petrescu Sacked 30 November 2020 3 Edward Iordanescu 3 December 2020
Dinamo Cosmin Contra Mutual Agreement 3 December 2020 12 Ionel Gane 4 December 2020

Regular season

In the regular season the 16 teams will meet twice for a total of 30 matches per team, with the top 6 advancing to the Championship play-offs and the bottom 10 qualifying for the relegation play-outs.[14]

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 FCSB 21 15 3 3 48 19 +29 48 Qualification for the Championship round
2 CFR Cluj 21 14 5 2 29 10 +19 47
3 Universitatea Craiova 21 11 7 3 26 13 +13 40
4 Sepsi OSK 20 8 9 3 33 20 +13 33
5 Academica Clinceni 21 7 9 5 21 20 +1 30
6 Botoșani 21 8 6 7 31 27 +4 30
7 Chindia Târgoviște 21 7 7 7 19 19 0 28 Qualification for the Relegation round
8 UTA Arad 21 7 6 8 20 29 −9 27
9 Viitorul Constanța 21 5 10 6 29 29 0 25
10 Dinamo București 21 7 4 10 23 25 −2 25
11 Gaz Metan Mediaș 21 7 4 10 27 32 −5 25
12 Astra Giurgiu 21 5 7 9 28 32 −4 22
13 FC Argeș 20 4 8 8 19 27 −8 20
14 Hermannstadt 21 3 9 9 20 31 −11 18
15 Voluntari 21 4 5 12 25 36 −11 17
16 Politehnica Iași 21 4 3 14 18 47 −29 15
Updated to match(es) played on 4 February 2021. Source: LPF (in Romanian), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-off.[14]

Results
Home \ Away ACA ARG AST BOT CFR CHI DIN FCS GAZ HER IAS SPS UCV UTA VII VOL
Academica Clinceni 1–0 2–1 1–2 0–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–0 2–0 14 Feb 0–3 1–0
FC Argeș 1–0 2–3 0–2 0–1 0–0 1–1 2–2 16 Feb 1–2 1–1 12 Feb 2–1
Astra Giurgiu 0–2 6 Feb 0–2 0–0 0–3 3–0 4–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 2–3
Botoșani 0–0 0–1 1–1 8 Feb 0–2 4–0 15 Feb 1–0 4–0 0–0 2–3 1–1
CFR Cluj 3–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–0 1–2 1–0 0–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 15 Feb
Chindia Târgoviște 2–1 2–2 2–3 0–1 1–0 0–2 1–0 1–3 1–1 1–2 13 Feb 1–1
Dinamo București 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–1 4–1 13 Feb 0–1 0–1 3–0
FCSB 7 Feb 3–0 3–0 4–1 3–2 5–0 3–1 1–1 3–0 3–0 2–1
Gaz Metan Mediaș 1–1 2–0 1–2 7 Feb 1–3 2–3 1–1 2–1 0–3 1–0 2–0
Hermannstadt 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 14 Feb 1–1 0–1 0–1 1–1 3–2
Politehnica Iași 0–0 1–1 14 Feb 0–1 0–2 1–0 5–2 1–4 1–4 0–3 1–2 0–3
Sepsi OSK 1–0 4–1 2–2 0–1 2–0 1–1 5 Feb 0–1 3–0 1–1 2–2
Universitatea Craiova 0–1 1–1 2–0 0–1 6 Feb 0–2 3–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 2–1
UTA Arad 0–0 1–2 0–6 1–0 0–1 1–3 7 Feb 2–3 1–2 0–0 0–0
Viitorul Constanța 2–2 4–1 1–2 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–1 3–3 1–4 1–1 8 Feb
Voluntari 3–3 1–3 0–1 0–2 2–1 2–1 4–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–2
Updated to match(es) played on 4 February 2021. Source: LPF (in Romanian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round
Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Academica Clinceni121110128101387555555556556
FC Argeș1115141515151515141415161616161615121212
Astra Giurgiu1616151616161616161616151413101212131313
Botoșani2224581058111111108810107775
CFR Cluj344223333333333222222
Chindia Târgoviște147710139579888877775667
Dinamo București712129121414141515141291011881111910
FCSB115332222111211111111
Gaz Metan Mediaș136669111213109910131412999101011
Hermannstadt891176561112121213121114141414141514
Politehnica Iași58974791213131314151515151616161616
Sepsi OSK151313131064444444444444444
Universitatea Craiova6311111112221223333333
UTA Arad910811111211657677991111109118
Viitorul Constanța101416141413896676666668889
Voluntari4535747101110109111213131315151415
Source:

Championship round

Relegation round

European play-offs

In the semi-final, the 7th and 8th-placed teams of the Liga I plays a one-legged match on the ground of the better placed team (7th place). In the final, the winner of the semi-final will encounter the team ranked on the last UEFA Europa Conference League spot in the play-off tournament. The winner of the final will qualify for the next season of UEFA Europa Conference League.

Bracket
Semi-finalFinal
          
Semi-final
7th
Final
8th
P/off
7th/8th

European play-off semi-final
v

European play-off final
v

Promotion/relegation play-offs

The 13th and 14th-placed teams of the Liga I faces the 3rd and 4th-placed team of the Liga II.

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
TBD – TBD – –
TBD – TBD – –
v
v
v
v

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of games played on 4 February 2021
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Florin Tănase FCSB 15
2 Dennis Man FCSB 14
3 Hamidou Keyta Botoșani 12
4 Kevin Luckassen Viitorul Constanța 9
5 Constantin Budescu Astra Giurgiu 8
6 Andrei Cristea Politehnica Iași 7
Alexandru Cicâldău Universitatea Craiova
Nicolao Dumitru Gaz Metan Mediaș
Cephas Malele FC Argeș
10 Ciprian Deac CFR Cluj 6
Gabriel Debeljuh CFR Cluj
Elvir Koljić Universitatea Craiova

Top asissts
As of games played on 22 December 2020
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Constantin Budescu Astra Giurgiu 7
Olimpiu Moruțan FCSB
3 Dennis Man FCSB 5
4 Alexandru Mățan Viitorul Constanța 4
Juan Passaglia Politehnica Iași
Deian Sorescu Dinamo București
7 Andrei Cristea Politehnica Iași 3
István Fülöp Sepsi OSK
Ion Gheorghe Voluntari
Ivan Mamut Universitatea Craiova
Bogdan Mitrea Sepsi OSK
Bryan Nouvier Sepsi OSK
Petrișor Petrescu Academica Clinceni

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Dennis Man FCSB FC Argeș 3–0 (H) 20 September 2020
Andrei Cristea Politehnica Iași FCSB 5–2 (H) 27 September 2020
Constantin Budescu Astra Giurgiu UTA Arad 6–0 (A) 21 December 2020
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Double
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Marko Dugandžić Botoșani Politehnica Iași 4–0 (H) 30 August 2020
Valentin Gheorghe Astra Giurgiu Sepsi OSK 2–2 (H) 13 September 2020
Elvir Koljić Universitatea Craiova Viitorul Constanța 4–1 (A) 14 September 2020
Gabriel Iancu Viitorul Constanța Astra Giurgiu 4–1 (H) 26 September 2020
Jefté Betancor Voluntari Astra Giurgiu 3–2 (A) 3 October 2020
Florin Tănase FCSB Dinamo București 3–2 (H) 3 October 2020
Cephas Malele FC Argeș Viitorul Constanța 2–2 (A) 25 October 2020
Vlad Morar UTA Arad Botoșani 2–3 (A) 31 October 2020
Cosmin Achim Voluntari Politehnica Iași 4–0 (H) 7 November 2020
Dennis Man FCSB Botoșani 4–1 (H) 7 November 2020
Florin Tănase FCSB Botoșani 4–1 (H) 7 November 2020
Mario Rondón CFR Cluj FC Argeș 2–0 (H) 8 November 2020
Nicolao Dumitru Gaz Metan Mediaș UTA Arad 3–1 (A) 9 November 2020
Borja Valle Dinamo București Voluntari 3–0 (H) 20 November 2020
Darius Olaru FCSB Gaz Metan Mediaș 3–2 (A) 23 November 2020
Ciprian Deac CFR Cluj Politehnica Iași 2–0 (A) 6 December 2020
Hamidou Keyta Botoșani Viitorul Constanța 2–1 (A) 15 December 2020
Cephas Malele FC Argeș Hermannstadt 2–2 (H) 16 December 2020
Pavol Šafranko Sepsi OSK UTA Arad 3–0 (H) 17 December 2020
Dennis Man FCSB Universitatea Craiova 2–0 (A) 18 December 2020
Notes


(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Clean sheets
As of games played on 22 December 2020
Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Octavian Vâlceanu Academica Clinceni 10
2 Cristian Bălgrădean CFR Cluj 9
3 Mirko Pigliacelli Universitatea Craiova 7
Andrei Vlad FCSB
5 Mihai Aioani Chindia Târgovişte 6
6 Roland Niczuly Sepsi OSK 5
7 Florin Iacob UTA Arad 4
David Lazar Astra Giurgiu
9 Teodor Axinte Politehnica Iași 2
Valentin Cojocaru Viitorul Constanța
Tomás Mejías Dinamo București
Eduard Pap Botoșani
Victor Rîmniceanu Voluntari

Discipline
As of games played on 22 December 2020

Player

Team
  • Most yellow cards: 48
    • Gaz Metan Mediaș
  • Most red cards: 5
    • Botoșani
    • Politehnica Iași
  • Fewest yellow cards: 21
    • Universitatea Craiova
  • Fewest red cards: 0
    • CFR Cluj
    • Sepsi OSK
    • Universitatea Craiova

Awards

References
  1. "Când va începe sezonul 2020-2021 de Liga 1 + Baraj-surpriză pentru cupele europene". gsp.ro. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  2. Liga 1 trece de la 14 la 16 echipe! Dinamo a fost salvată de la retrogradare, ultima clasată Chindia Târgoviște va juca barajul de menținere/promovare cu CS Mioveni. Se schimbă modul de promovare din Liga 2, însă din sezonul următor. liga2.prosport.ro (in Romanian)
  3. "Sărbătoare anunțată la Arad, după ce UTA a promovat în Liga 1! "Trei zile savurăm acest succes"". digisport.ro. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. "Entuziasm la FC Argeș, după obținerea promovării în Liga 1! "Este succesul celor mărunți, care au ajuns zmei"". digisport.ro. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. "Știm prima echipă retrogradată în Liga 2! Chindia Târgoviște se întoarce în eșalonul secund". digisport.ro. 2 August 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. "UPDATE Clasamentele play-off/play-out din Liga 1 au fost înghețate » Cum arată ierarhia finală". gsp.ro. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  7. "MULȚUMIM, COACH!". politehnicaiasi.ro. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  8. "Daniel Pancu se desparte de Rapid și preia ca antrenor principal Poli Iași! Anunță clubul giuleștean, nu și cel din Copou". digisport.ro. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  9. "NEWS ALERT! Viitorul și-a prezentat noul antrenor! Cine a venit să-l înlocuiască pe Gică Hagi". digisport.ro. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  10. "Multumim, Gheorghe Multescu!". fcdinamo.ro. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  11. "Cosmin Contra a semnat cu Dinamo!". gsp.ro. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  12. "Dusan Uhrin out de la Gaz Metan". gsp.ro. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  13. "Jorge Costa antrenor la Gaz Metan". 30 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  14. "Liga I 2019/2020". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
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