- Team form: SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea arrive for their season opener on the back of impressive 4-0 friendly win over CSA Steaua, while Popești-Leordeni are fresh from their promotion-winning 2-0 Liga 3 play-off final victory.
- Tactics: The home side are set up in a structured 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation and will try to control the game by keeping it tight, while Popești-Leordeni are more direct and will come in waves.
- Odds: SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea are favoured by the odds makers at 1.77, with Popești-Leordeni at 4.1 and the Draw at 3.45.
New boys to serve up an opening-day battle
SCM Ramnicu Valcea and ACS Gloria Popesti Leordeni have never met at senior level before the opening round of Liga 2 2026-2027, but this will not be a blind date. SCM will have a rough idea what kind of game they will have to play in order to get the better of Cătălin Gheorghe's men this Saturday, and the visitors will have been busy studying the home team's recent performances in order to find a way through.
Constantin Schumacher's side finished 2026's preseason programme on a high after beating CSA Steaua 4-0 in a friendly, having also drawn 1-1 with FC Argeș. They also drew CSM Slatina 1-1, and a handful of other friendlies. Schumacher rotated heavily to get some more fitness and structure into his squad, but SCM never looked more than a goal away from being competitive, even in the worst of the games. The team looks to have steel and bite, which is a good base to start a promotion chase.
Huiban has spark and Dandea has experience
System and key home players
Schumacher has his men set up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 system, but they can play with the ball and sit in when they need to, while their ability to press in a measured way to control the tempo of the game also stands out.
Visitors and key threats
Popești-Leordeni arrive for this season opener, having seen off Șoimii Gura Humorului 3-2 and Olimpic Zărnești 2-0 in the Liga 3 play-offs, before going unbeaten through a summer camp in Brașov.
This will be a chess match, where SCM will try to boss the play and Popești-Leordeni will look for turnovers and transitions.
- They will have a go on set plays through the likes of Andrei Sălcianu, while Alexandru Huiban is a sparky presence up top and Alexandru Dandea brings big-game experience to the back four.
- Luca Pătrășcoiu was their clutch man in the promotion final, while Mihai Ion brings an ability to finish chances late in the box and Marc Rădulescu will have earned his stripes as a reliable backstop after key saves helped seal their promotion push.
- Gheorghe's team is more direct than SCM, setting up a compact mid-block, with some dangerous players to pounce on turnovers and carry the ball forward at pace.
Hosts to lean the first contest
Although neither team have a point on the board in 2026-27, we feel SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea will get their first Liga 2 win of the new campaign in this opener. They are the favourites, but it won't be easy and the correct score bet and the model points to a tight game.
Under 2.5 goals at 1.77 and Both Teams To Score – No at 1.83 also appeal for this clash. The hosts can fill their home stands free of charge for this opener and a sunny morning might help the atmosphere, but the heat may also drag this into a grind.
If you are going to bet on a goal scorer, take Alexandru Huiban to score anytime.
