Sports weekend
A preview of the sports action this weekend in rugby, handball and football.
Florin Orban, 09.02.2024, 13:45
Romanias rugby side are facing Belgium on Saturday in Bucharest. This is Romanias second match in the 2024 edition of the Rugby Europe Championship, a competition for second tier sides. In the first matches, Romania defeated Poland 20-8 in Gdynia and Belgium defeated Portugal 10-6 in Mons.
In womens handball, the 13th and last but final leg of the Champions League group stage is taking place at the weekend. In Group B, Rapid Bucharest are facing Zaglebie Lubin in Poland on Saturday, with Rapid having only theoretical chances to advance to the next stage. In Group A, CSM Bucharest are playing against the German side Bietigheim at home on Sunday. The Romanian champions are third in the group ranking, two points behind the side in second place, Odense from Denmark. The two best ranked sides in each group qualify straight into the quarterfinals, while the sides in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th places will go into play-offs.
The EHF European League will see the fifth leg of the group stage. In Group B, Dunărea Brăila are playing the German side Thüringer on Saturday in Buzău. Thüringer have already secured their spot in the quarterfinals, while Dunărea need at least a draw to book theirs. In Group C, Gloria Bistrița are playing Lublin in Poland, but they have already qualified to the quarterfinals. Finally, CSM Târgu Jiu will play Malaga in Spain, on Sunday, but the Romanian side have so far lost all their matches in the European League in Group D.
Lets end with football. The 25th leg of the Romanian Football Superleague is scheduled for this weekend. On Friday, Oţelul Galaţi are playing FC U Craiova, and Universitatea Craiova are playing Universitatea Cluj. On Saturday, FC Voluntari are playing Iaşi, and CFR Cluj are playing Rapid Bucharest. On Sunday, Hermannstadt are playing Petrolul Ploieşti and FCSB are playing Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe. On Monday, in the legs final two matches, UTA Arad are playing FC Botoşani and Farul Constanţa are playing Dinamo Bucharest. FCSB are ahead in the ranking, leading CFR and Rapid by nine points.
