2019–20 Liga I Explained

Competition:Liga I
Season:2019–20
Dates:12 July 2019 – 5 August 2020
Winners:CFR Cluj
6th title
Continentalcup1:Champions League
Continentalcup1 Qualifiers:CFR Cluj
Continentalcup2:UEFA Europa League
Continentalcup2 Qualifiers:Universitatea Craiova
Botoșani
FCSB
League Topscorer:Gabriel Iancu
(18 goals)
Best Goalkeeper:Giedrius Arlauskis
(16 clean sheets)
Biggest Home Win:
(15 July 2019)

(13 September 2019)
Biggest Away Win:
(26 October 2019)

(21 December 2019)
Highest Scoring:
(14 July 2019)

(1 December 2019)

(15 February 2020)
Matches:261
Total Goals:520
Longest Wins:8 matches
Astra Giurgiu
Longest Losses:9 matches
Politehnica Iași
Longest Unbeaten:9 matches
Astra Giurgiu
FCSB
Longest Winless:16 matches
Voluntari
Highest Attendance:30,235

(5 October 2019)
Lowest Attendance:01
Attendance:684,565
Average Attendance:3,493
Prevseason:2018–19
Nextseason:2020–21
Updated:16 June 2020
1Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football

The 2019–20 Liga I (also known as Casa Liga 1 for sponsorship reasons) was the 102nd season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs, which began in July 2019 and was scheduled to end in June 2020. Suspended in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania, the season resumed on 13 June and effectively ended on 5 August.[1] It was the fifth season to take place since the play-off/play-out rule had been introduced.

CFR Cluj were two-time defending champions, and they successfully defended their title once more. Universitatea Craiova competed for the trophy until the final fixture of the championship play-offs, and ultimately finished as runner-ups, while FCSB were unable to claim a top three spot in the table for the first time since the 2010–11 season. Because of the aforementioned situation created by the pandemic, it was decided that no club would be relegated directly. Instead, the 14th-placed team would take part in the promotion/relegation play-offs, which resulted in no club being relegated at all.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

The derby between FCSB and Universitatea Craiova on 8 March 2020 was played without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] Four days later, all football leagues and competitions were suspended by the Romanian Football Federation until 31 March in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic in Romania.[3] In May, it was announced that the Liga I would restart on the second weekend of June.[4]

The first match meant to be played at the resumption was Universitatea Craiova versus FC Botoșani, on 12 June at 20:00 EEST (UTC+3),[5] but was postponed after the latter club's doctor tested positive for the virus.[6] This was the second game announced to be postponed on the same day after Dinamo București versus Chindia Târgoviște, which was scheduled for 13 June.[7] Nevertheless, the season resumed with three other matches on 13 June.[8]

After the restart, many matches were postponed due to COVID-19 cases that appeared inside the teams. At the end the season, two matches were cancelled in the play-off after Coronavirus cases from Astra Giurgiu and five matches were canceled in the play-out, after the emergence of the same issue at Dinamo București. The final league tables were approved without these matches and it was announced that only the last place, Chindia Târgoviște, would play a promotion/relegation play-off, with the rest of the teams being spared from relegation and the format being changed from 14 teams to 16 teams starting with the next season.[9]

Teams

The league consists of 14 teams: twelve teams from the 2018–19 Liga I and two new teams from the 2018–19 Liga II.

Teams promoted to the Liga I

The first club to be promoted was Academica Clinceni, following their 2–1 win against Argeș Pitești on 24 May 2019. Academica will play in the Liga I for the first time in their history.[10]

The second club to be promoted was Chindia Târgoviște, following their 4–1 win against Luceafărul Oradea on 25 May 2019. AFC Chindia will play in the Liga I for the first time in their history, but the city of Târgoviște, returned in the Liga I after 21 years of absence, where it was last represented by FCM Târgoviște, named between 1996 and 2003 as CF Chindia, club that was also the first club of the city and which was replaced by the new club (AFC Chindia) after some internal conflicts.[11]

Teams relegated to the Liga II

The first club to be relegated was Concordia Chiajna, which were relegated on 22 May 2019 following a 0–2 defeat against Dunărea Călărași, ending their 8-year stay in the top flight.[12] [13]

The second club to be relegated was Dunărea Călărași, which were relegated on 2 June 2019 following a 1–2 defeat against FC Hermannstadt, ending their 1-year stay in the top flight.[14] [15]

Venues

FCSBUniversitatea CraiovaCFR ClujChindia Târgoviște
Arena NaționalăIon OblemencoDr. Constantin RădulescuIlie Oană
Capacity: 55,634Capacity: 30,929Capacity: 23,500Capacity: 15,073
Dinamo BucureștiPolitehnica Iași
Stadionul DinamoEmil Alexandrescu
Capacity: 15,032Capacity: 11,390
Astra GiurgiuGaz Metan Mediaș
Marin AnastasoviciGaz Metan
Capacity: 8,500Capacity: 7,814
FC BotoșaniSepsi OSK
MunicipalMunicipal
Capacity: 7,782Capacity: 5,200
HermannstadtVoluntariViitorul ConstanțaAcademica Clinceni
MunicipalAnghel IordănescuViitorulClinceni
Capacity: 5,000Capacity: 4,600Capacity: 4,554Capacity: 4,500

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.

TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Academica Clinceni Răzvan PatricheJomaNicmar Prima, Fermele Crevedia
Astra Giurgiu Denis AlibecJoma Tinmar, Pambac
Botoșani ErreàElsaco
CFR Cluj Mário CamoraJomaNTT Data
Chindia Târgoviște Cristian CherchezJomaPrimăria Târgoviște, CJ Dâmbovița
Dinamo București Ante PuljićMacronUnibet
FCSB Florin TănaseNikeCity Insurance
Gaz Metan Mediaș Marius ConstantinJomaRomgaz
Hermannstadt Răzvan DâlbeaJomaNatur House
Politehnica Iași Cosmin FrăsinescuJomaSuperbet
Sepsi OSK Leontin Grozavu István FülöpAdidasDiószegi, Gyermelyi
Universitatea Craiova Nicușor BancuJomaBetano
Viitorul Constanța Gabriel IancuNikePepsi
Voluntari Ionuț BalaurMacronWinner

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
FCSB Sacked21 May 2019[16] Pre-season 5 June 2019[17]
Sepsi (caretaker)End of tenure as a caretaker31 May 2019Pre-season Csaba László1 June 2019[18]
Botoșani Signed by Lebanon31 May 2019[19] Pre-season 10 July 2019
Politehnica Signed by Petrolul Ploiești31 May 2019[20] Pre-season 10 June 2019[21]
Dinamo Mutual agreement3 June 2019[22] Pre-season 3 June 2019[23]
Astra Sacked12 June 2019[24] Pre-season 13 June 2019[25]
Hermannstadt Signed by Kisvárda13 June 2019[26] Pre-season 17 June 2019[27]
FCSB Released2 August 2019[28] 8 (caretaker)2 August 2019
Academica No UEFA Pro Licence8 August 201914 8 August 2019[29]
Dinamo Mutual agreement13 August 201913 13 August 2019[30]
FCSB (caretaker)Mutual agreement23 August 2019[31] 11 23 August 2019
Universitatea Mutual agreement2 September 2019[32] 3 2 September 2019
Hermannstadt Mutual agreement28 September 2019[33] 12 2 October 2019[34]
Astra Sacked9 October 20197 9 October 2019[35]
Sepsi Csaba LászlóMutual agreement12 November 201911 12 November 2019[36]
Politehnica Mutual agreement23 December 2019[37] 11 31 December 2019
Hermannstadt Mutual agreement27 December 2019[38] 10 27 December 2019
Voluntari Sacked1 January 2020[39] 14 8 January 2020[40]
Universitatea Mutual agreement14 January 2020[41] 4 14 January 2020
Dinamo Mutual agreement11 March 202010 11 March 2020[42]
Gaz Metan Mutual agreement4 May 2020[43] 6 15 June 2020[44]
Universitatea Mutual agreement8 May 20203 9 May 2020
Hermannstadt Sacked14 June 2020[45] 9 19 June 2020[46]
Chindia End of contract30 June 202013 1 July 2020[47]
Dinamo Mutual agreement13 July 202013 13 July 2020[48]
FCSB Sacked19 July 20205 19 July 2020
Viitorul Mutual agreement3 August 2020[49] 7 3 August 2020

Regular season

In the regular season the 14 teams will meet twice, a total of 26 matches per team, with the top 6 advancing to the Championship round and the bottom 8 qualifying for Relegation round.

Table

Positions by round

Championship play-offs

The top six teams from Regular season will meet twice (10 matches per team) for places in 2020–21 UEFA Champions League and 2020–21 UEFA Europa League as well as deciding the league champion. Teams start the Championship round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season.[50]

Championship play-off table

Positions by round

Relegation play-outs

The bottom eight teams from regular season met twice (14 matches per team) to contest against relegation. Teams started the Relegation round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season. The winner of the Relegation round finished 7th in the overall season standings, the second placed team – 8th, and so on, with the last placed team in the Relegation round being 14th.[50]

Relegation play-outs table

Positions by round

Promotion/relegation play-offs

The 14th-placed team of the Liga I faces the 3rd-placed team of the Liga II.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Updated to matches played on 16 June 2020.[51] [52] [53]

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Gabriel IancuViitorul Constanța18
2 Ciprian DeacCFR Cluj14
Denis AlibecAstra Giurgiu
Alexandru CicâldăuUniversitatea Craiova
5 Florinel ComanFCSB12
Gabriel DebeljuhHermannstadt
7 RivaldinhoViitorul Constanța11
8 Sergiu BușGaz Metan Mediaș10
Deian SorescuDinamo București
Valentin GheorgheAstra Giurgiu

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date
Daniel PopaDinamo BucureștiAcademica Clinceni4–22 August 2019
George MerloiAcademica ClinceniChindia Târgoviște5–21 December 2019

Clean sheets

Updated to matches played on 9 March 2020.

RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Giedrius ArlauskisCFR Cluj15
2 Cristian BălgrădeanFCSB10
Răzvan PleșcaGaz Metan Mediaș
4 David LazarAstra Giurgiu6
Riccardo PiscitelliDinamo București
Denis RusuPolitehnica Iași
Roland NiczulySepsi OSK
Cătălin CăbuzViitorul Constanța
9 CristianoHermannstadt5
10 Eduard PapBotoșani4
Mihai AioaniChindia Târgoviște
Mirko PigliacelliUniversitatea Craiova
13 Miguel SantosAcademica Clinceni3
Octavian VâlceanuAcademica Clinceni
Hidajet HankičBotoșani
Béla FejérSepsi OSK
17 Árpád TordaiViitorul Constanța2
Bozhidar MitrevVoluntari
Valentin CojocaruVoluntari
Victor RîmniceanuVoluntari
21 Georgi KitanovAstra Giurgiu1
Grzegorz SandomierskiCFR Cluj|-| Cosmin Vâtcă|CFR Cluj|-| Laurențiu Popescu|Universitatea Craiova|}-->|}

Discipline

As of 9 March 2020

Player

1 Bogdan Țîru was transferred to Jagiellonia Białystok during the winter transfer window.

Club

Awards

Liga I Team of the Season

PlayerTeamPosition
Giedrius ArlauskisCFR ClujGoalkeeper
Andrei BurcăCFR ClujDefender
Paulo ViníciusCFR ClujDefender
Marius ConstantinGaz Metan MediașDefender
Ciprian DeacCFR ClujMidfielder
Dan NistorDinamo București / Universitatea CraiovaMidfielder
Alexandru CicâldăuUniversitatea CraiovaMidfielder
Jonathan RodríguezBotoșaniMidfielder
Gabriel IancuViitorulForward
Denis AlibecAstra GiurgiuForward
Florinel ComanFCSBForward

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Liga 1, Sezonul 2019-2020 . lfp.ro . 16 June 2020.
  2. News: OFICIAL! Derby-ul se va juca fără spectatori! Anunțul făcut de echipa din Bănie. OFFICIAL! The derby will be played without spectators! The announcement of the club from Bănie. Digi Sport. ro. 8 March 2020. 12 June 2020.
  3. News: FRF a decis întreruperea tuturor competițiilor fotbalistice pe teritoriul României. FRF has decided to suspend all football competitions on the territory of Romania. Romanian Football Federation. ro. 12 March 2020. 2 June 2020.
  4. News: Știm când se reia Liga 1! LPF și FRF au postat programul meciurilor. CFR Cluj- FCSB se joacă în 14 iunie. We know when the Liga I restarts! LPF and FRF revealed the dates of the matches. CFR Cluj – FCSB will be played on 14 June. cluj24.ro. ro. 13 May 2020. 2 June 2020.
  5. News: FRF a decis. Acesta este calendarul finalului de sezon și protocolul medical. FRF has decided. This is the fixture calendar for the end of the season and the medical protocol. Digi Sport. ro. 5 June 2020. 5 June 2020.
  6. News: S-a amânat și Craiova - Botoșani! Caz de COVID și la gruparea din Moldova. Craiova - Botoșani has also been postponed! COVID positive test in Moldova too. Digi Sport. ro. 11 June 2020. 12 June 2020.
  7. News: UPDATE Meciurile lui Dinamo, suspendate de LPF! Comunicatul oficial al Ligii. UPDATE Dinamo's matches, suspended by LPF! The official statement of the League. Gazeta Sporturilor. ro. 11 June 2020. 12 June 2020.
  8. Web site: Liga 1, Sezonul 2019-2020 . lfp.ro . 16 June 2020.
  9. https://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/liga-1-trece-de-la-14-la-16-echipe-dinamo-a-fost-salvata-de-la-retrogradare-ultima-clasata-chindia-targoviste-va-juca-barajul-de-mentinere-promovare-cu-cs-mioveni-19142848 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
  10. News: Promovare istorică pentru Clinceni! Academica câștigă în prelungiri meciul cu FC Argeș și e matematic în Liga 1. Argăseală și MM Stoica s-au bucurat ca la un titlu al FCSB-ului. liga2.prosport.ro. 24 May 2019. 24 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190524173031/https://liga2.prosport.ro/seria-1/campionat/promovare-istorica-pentru-clinceni-academica-castiga-in-prelungiri-meciul-cu-fc-arges-si-e-matematic-in-liga-1-argaseala-si-mm-stoica-s-au-bucurat-ca-la-un-titlu-al-fcsb-ului-18142101. 24 May 2019. dead.
  11. News: În Liga 1 după două decenii! Chindia câștigă la scor meciul cu Luceafărul Oradea și pornește fiesta promovării matematice. După Clinceni, Târgoviștea e acum în sărbătoare. liga2.prosport.ro. 25 May 2019. 25 May 2019.
  12. News: PRIMA ECHIPA RETROGRADATA matematic din Liga I! Dunarea Calarasi, pas urias catre salvare dupa 2-0 cu Chiajna! Concordia a picat in "B". sport.ro. 22 May 2019. 23 May 2019.
  13. News: Concordia Chiajna revine în Liga 2. Echipa ilfoveană a retrogradat după opt sezoane petrecute în prima ligă. liga2.prosport.ro. 22 May 2019. 23 May 2019.
  14. News: Hermannstadt a prins locul de baraj printr-un gol marcat în minutul 90+6. Dunărea Călărași a retrogradat. digisport.ro. 2 June 2019. 2 June 2019.
  15. News: Dunărea Călărași retrogradează în Liga 2, FC Hermannstadt e adversara Universității Cluj la baraj. În minutul 90+5, sibienii erau ei cei care picau în eșalonul secund. liga2.prosport.ro. 2 June 2019. 3 June 2019.
  16. Web site: Mulțumim, Mihai Teja!. fcsb.ro. 23 May 2019. 21 May 2019.
  17. Web site: Bogdan Andone, antrenorul FCSB!. fcsb.ro. 5 June 2019. 5 June 2019.
  18. Web site: Laszlo Csaba, noul antrenor al echipei Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe. A pregătit în Scoția, Ungaria, Belgia, Lituania, Slovakia sau Uganda. libertatea.ro. 29 May 2019. 29 May 2019.
  19. Web site: Liviu Ciobotariu pleacă de la FC Botoșani și va prelua naționala Libanului. ziaruldeiasi.ro. 1 June 2019. 29 May 2019.
  20. Web site: Flavius Stoican pleacă de la Poli Iași! Antrenorul a făcut anunțul oficial: "Au fost doi ani frumoși". prosport.ro. 1 June 2019. 29 May 2019.
  21. Web site: S-a făcut! Mihai Teja este noul antrenor al echipei Poli Iași. Un stadion nou și o sală de sport l-au convins. digisport.ro. 10 June 2019. 10 June 2019.
  22. Web site: 3 iunie 2019 - OFICIAL. Comunicat de presă. fcdinamo.ro. 3 June 2019. 3 June 2019.
  23. Web site: OFICIAL. Eugen Neagoe la Dinamo. fcdinamo.ro. 5 June 2019. 3 June 2019.
  24. Web site: Motivul pentru care Costel Enache a fost dat afară de Ioan Niculae de la Astra. digisport.ro. 13 June 2019. 12 June 2019.
  25. Web site: Dan Alexa la primul antrenament. afcastragiurgiu.ro. 16 June 2019. 13 June 2019.
  26. Web site: Bemutatkozott az új vezetőedző. kisvardafc.hu. 16 June 2019. 13 June 2019.
  27. Web site: Costel Enache a semnat OFICIAL cu Hermannstadt. gsp.ro. 18 June 2019. 17 June 2019.
  28. Web site: Mulțumim, Bogdan Andone!. fcsb.ro. 6 August 2019. 2 August 2019.
  29. Web site: Academica Clinceni a luat o decizie importantă, după ce Ilie Poenaru a picat examenul pentru licența PRO. gsp.ro. 26 August 2019. 26 August 2019.
  30. Web site: OFICIAL. Dusan Uhrin Jr. la Dinamo.. fcdinamo.ro. 13 August 2019. 15 August 2019.
  31. Web site: Bine ai venit, Bogdan Vintilă!. fcsb.ro. 23 August 2019. 23 August 2019.
  32. Web site: Prezentarea oficială a lui Victor Pițurcă. ucv1948.ro. 5 September 2019. 1 September 2019.
  33. Web site: Costel Enache a demisionat de la Hermannstadt!. 28 September 2019. 28 September 2019.
  34. Web site: E oficial! Eugen Neagoe a semnat cu Hermannstadt. gsp.ro. 2 October 2019. 8 October 2019.
  35. Web site: Cuplul Bogdan Andone - Vasile Maftei preia Astra. Alexa nu vrea să demisioneze. digisport.ro. 9 October 2019. 19 October 2019.
  36. Web site: Leo Grozavu este noul antrenor de la Sepsi după rezilierea înțelegerii cu Laszlo Csaba. digisport.ro. 17 November 2019. 17 November 2019.
  37. Web site: Mihai Teja și-a reziliat contractul cu Poli Iași. ziaruldesport.ro. 23 December 2019. 27 December 2019.
  38. Web site: Hermannstadt și-a găsit antrenor! A semnat pe șase luni și vine să salveze echipa de la retrogradare. 13 February 2020. 13 February 2020.
  39. Web site: Cristiano Bergodi a fost dat afară de la Voluntari.. digisport.ro. 1 January 2020. 13 January 2020.
  40. Web site: Mihai Teja s-a înțeles cu FC Voluntari!. gsp.ro. 8 January 2020. 13 January 2020.
  41. Web site: De ce au ales oltenii să meargă pe mâna lui Papură, după plecarea lui Pițurcă: "În ideea asta". ro. Why did the Oltenians choose to go on Papura's hand, after Pițurcă's departure: "In this idea". digisport.ro. 13 February 2020. 13 February 2020.
  42. Web site: OFICIAL: Adrian Mihalcea este noul antrenor al lui Dinamo!. digisport.ro. 11 March 2020. 1 June 2020.
  43. Web site: Edi Iordanescu pleaca de la Gaz Metan.. sport.ro. 16 June 2020. 4 May 2020.
  44. Web site: Dusan Uhrin, din aeroport, direct pe banca tehnică.. digisport.ro. 16 June 2020. 15 June 2020.
  45. Web site: Primul antrenor demis dupa reluarea Ligii 1. Vasile Miriuta pleaca de la Sibiu.. mediafax.ro. 16 June 2020. 14 June 2020.
  46. Web site: Ruben Albes a fost prezentat de Anamaria Prodan la Hermannstadt!. prosport.ro. 20 June 2020. 19 June 2020.
  47. Web site: OFICIAL! Emil Săndoi este noul antrenor al Chindiei Târgoviște.. digisport.ro. 3 July 2020. 30 June 2020.
  48. Web site: Fanii din programul DDB au anunțat noul antrenor al lui Dinamo: "Îi mulțumim lui Adrian Mihalcea". digisport.ro. 13 July 2020. 14 July 2020.
  49. Web site: Gică Hagi nu va mai antrena Viitorul!. realitateasportiva.net. 6 August 2020. 3 August 2020.
  50. Web site: Liga I 2019/2020 - Regulamentul playoff/playout. RomaniaTV . 21 February 2016. 2015-07-10.
  51. Web site: Top Scorers regular championship. www.soccerway.com . 16 May 2021 . Romanian.
  52. Web site: Top Scorers play-off. www.soccerway.com . 16 May 2021 . Romanian.
  53. Web site: Top Scorers play-out. www.soccerway.com . 16 May 2021 . Romanian.
  54. Web site: Liga 1 Romania - Top cartonase galbene. www.liga1.ro. 13 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20170326170241/http://www.liga1.ro/html/cartonase_galbene. 26 March 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  55. Web site: Liga 1 Romania - Top cartonase rosii. www.liga1.ro. 13 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20150703090941/http://www.liga1.ro/html/cartonase_rosii. 3 July 2015. dead. dmy-all.
  56. Web site: Liga 1 Romania - Clasament Fairplay. www.liga1.ro. 13 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20170223021526/http://www.liga1.ro/html/clasament_fairplay. 23 February 2017. dead. dmy-all.
  57. Web site: CFR Cluj 2019–2020 . Soccerway. 16 May 2021.
  58. Web site: CFR Cluj 2019–2020 . WorldFootball. 16 May 2021.