- Team form: Popesti Leordeni are unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions, with a 3–2 home win in the semifinal putting Popesti Leordeni through to the final.
- Recent run: Unirea Alba Iulia are in the final after winning four of their last five and keeping four straight shutouts, including a 3–0 away win in their semi-final.
- Head-to-head: There is no previous head-to-head record between these clubs.
A clash of styles in the Liga III promotion final
This Saturday's Liga III promotion playoff final between Acs Gloria Popesti Leordeni and Unirea Alba Iulia is likely to be a battle of styles between the hosts' high-tempo, attacking approach and the visitors' more conservative and defensive system. Both clubs finished among the leaders in their respective Liga III series and won their respective semifinals on May 30th to reach this all-important baraj final where the winner will be promoted to play Liga II soccer in 2026/27.
Popesti Leordeni are unbeaten in their last five games. Coach Petre Pașculea's men had solid home results in May and produced a dramatic 3–2 victory to reach this final.
The main reason for Unirea Alba Iulia's success over the last few months has been their ability to absorb pressure and defend compactly with discipline, allowing their forwards and wide men to pick off any opportunities that occur on counterattacks. It has served them well in a long and demanding promotion season and they come into the national final on the back of a four-game shutout streak, conceding just one goal in their last five, winning by multi-goal margins on each occasion.
Duel in the heart of Moldavia
Stadionul Inter Gaz is a compact ground with a modest seating capacity, but should have a modest but vocal crowd on Saturday. With warm, dry weather expected, it should be an ideal afternoon for attacking soccer, and with both sides keen to make a mark, we're expecting a close contest.
Unirea are rightly favourites at 2.05, although we'll take Popesti at 3.35, with the draw a touch short at 3.3. The market seems to favour a tight game and we do too, although we will take a chance on both teams to score at 1.67 as both have enough attacking quality to trouble the other's defence in this one.
Who’s who in the promotion final
Key players
- Nicolae Leafu is a reliable and experienced defender who has been the calm and set-piece exponent for Popesti this season.
- Răzvan Fetița has been a reliable source of goals for Unirea this season, he is the team's regular match-winner and will be hungry for success here.
- The hosts' top scorer Alexandru Dane was the difference between the sides in the semi-final and is the most dangerous player on the field when he is on his game.
Coach and tactics
His side have come through some tight games and the fact that they are still unbeaten in the playoffs shows a great deal of character.
Dragoș Militaru is one of the rising stars of Romanian coaching and has a promotion record. He is a coach, but the team he has assembled plays in a very defensive style, absorbing pressure and hitting on the counter attack.
It should be an interesting matchup against the more open, high energy style of Popesti Leordeni.