Form guide

Afumaţi enter this Liga II fixture without any published season stats, so we must rely on last season’s record and pre-season friendlies. They finished 12th in the 2024-25 Liga II table, collecting 38 points from 30 matches—just two places above the relegation play-out. Over the summer they played five friendlies, winning two, drawing one and losing two, scoring seven and conceding eight. The squad is thin: only 22 registered players, and key midfielder Andrei Radu is suspended after accumulating yellow cards. Striker Marius Pena, who contributed six league goals last term, is the main attacking threat but has looked rusty in pre-season.

FC Voluntari, in contrast, arrive with clear momentum. They finished 3rd in Liga I last season and secured a Europa Conference League qualifying spot. Over the summer they played seven friendlies, winning five, drawing one and losing only once, scoring 18 and conceding 7. Their squad is deeper and more experienced: 28 registered players, including the returning loan pair of winger Andrei Ciobanu and striker Alexandru Tudorie, both of whom featured regularly in Liga I. Voluntari’s only notable absence is centre-back Alin Dobrosavlevici, who is recovering from a minor knee issue but is expected to be fit for the first competitive round the following weekend; he has been training with the group and is available for selection here.

Head-to-head

The two sides have met only once in competitive fixtures: a 2-1 Liga II victory for FC Voluntari in March 2025. That match was played at Voluntari’s home ground, so this is Afumaţi’s first chance to host their higher-division opponents. Historically, Voluntari have dominated the lower-league sides they encounter in the Romanian Cup, winning seven of their last eight ties against Liga II opposition by an aggregate score of 19-4.

What the odds say

The market consensus gives FC Voluntari a 48.6 % chance of victory, Afumaţi 24.3 %, and the draw 27.1 %. Those numbers imply a clear away favourite, yet the best available away odds (1.98) still sit slightly above the de-vigged probability, suggesting the books are shading the line to attract money on the underdog. Afumaţi’s odds (3.7) are longer than the implied 24.3 %, indicating the market sees little value in the home side.

Tactical outlook

Afumaţi are expected to line up in a compact 4-4-2, looking to exploit set-pieces and quick transitions. With Radu suspended, the midfield loses its primary playmaker; defensive midfielder Ionuţ Bălan will have to drop deeper, leaving space for Voluntari’s double pivot to dictate tempo. Voluntari, meanwhile, will likely deploy a 4-2-3-1, pressing high in the opening 20 minutes to force turnovers in dangerous areas. Their full-backs, especially left-back Răzvan Grădinaru, will push forward to provide width, while Ciobanu and Tudorie rotate between the channels to stretch Afumaţi’s back four.

Match context

This is the opening round of the Romanian Cup, a one-off knockout tie played at Afumaţi’s modest Stadionul Comunal (capacity 1,500). Afumaţi have little to lose and may adopt an aggressive approach, but their squad depth and recent form suggest they will struggle to maintain intensity for 90 minutes. Voluntari, although not yet at peak sharpness, have the quality to control possession and create chances at will. The tie also carries a scheduling quirk: Voluntari’s first Liga I match is a week away, so they can afford to rotate and still preserve energy, whereas Afumaţi have no league fixture until the following weekend and must treat this as their season opener.