Sports Weekend
A preview of the sports action this weekend.
Florin Orban, 17.01.2025, 13:45
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, is under way in Melbourne. Jaqueline Cristian, the only Romanian player still in competition in the women’s singles, will be in action on Saturday in the third round. She will be playing Germany’s Eva Lys, no. 128 in the world. Cristian, who is 82 in the world, has so far lost all her three head-to-head matches against Lys.
It’s news from handball next. Matches are held this weekend in the European women’s competitions. In the Champions League Group A on Saturday, CSM Bucharest will be receiving the Slovenian side Krim Ljubljana, while Gloria Bistriţa-Năsăud are playing Podravka Koprivnica away, in Croatia. CSM are in 5th place in the group and Gloria in 6th. In Group B, Rapid Bucharest, who are in 7th place in the ranking, that is the least but last, will be facing the Danish side Odense at home on Sunday.
In the EHF European League Group A, Dunărea Brăila will face the Norwegian side Larvik away on Saturday, while in Group B, SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea will face the Danish side Ikast, also on Saturday. On Wednesday, the two Romanian teams faced each other in a domestic National League match, with Dunărea Brăila winning 31 to 24 at home.
Let’s end with football. The domestic Superleague championship is being resumed this weekend. Two matches are played on Friday: Unirea Slobozia vs Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe; and FCSB vs. FC Hermannstadt. On Saturday, Universitatea Cluj are playing Gloria Buzău at home; and Oţelul Galaţi are receiving Petrolul Ploieşti. On Sunday, FC Botoşani are playing CFR Cluj at home; and Universitatea Craiova are facing Dinamo Bucharest at home. The leg’s two final matches will be played on Monday, namely Farul Constanţa vs. UTA; and Rapid Bucharest vs. Poli Iaşi.
At the moment, Universitatea Cluj and FCSB top the ranking with 37 points each. They are followed by Dinamo Bucharest, with 36, and Universitatea Craiova and CFR Cluj, with 35 each. Petrolul Ploieşti are last with 31 points, while Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe, with 30 points, and Rapid Bucharest, with 29, are facing demotion.
