Sports Weekend

In the first leg of the play-offs for the eighth-finals of the football Conference League, on Thursday, CFR Cluj lost to Lazio Rome, away from home, 0-1. The only goal of the match was scored by Ciro Immobile, in the first half overtime. The Italian side were down to ten men, after Patric was sent off for a foul on Ermal Krasniqi on 15 minutes. Dan Petrescu's team nonetheless failed to take advantage of the situation. The second leg will be played next Thursday in Cluj-Napoca.

Also in football, this weekend the 26th round of the Romanian Super League is played. After 2 matches on Friday, Chindia Târgovişte vs. Universitatea Cluj and CS Mioveni vs. Rapid Bucharest, on Saturday Hermannstadt take on UTA Arad on home turf, and Farul Constanţa face Petrolul Ploieşti. On Sunday, CFR play against FC Argeş, while FCSB meet Universitatea Craiova. The last 2 matches of this round are scheduled for Monday, pitting FC Botoşani against Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe and FC U Craiova against FC Voluntari. Top of the tables at this time are Farul, with 52 points, followed by CFR, 2 points behind.

Two rounds before the end of the group stage in men's handball Champions League, Dinamo Bucharest has secured a spot in the play-offs for the quarter-finals. The Romanian champions, currently ranking 5th in Group A, are moving forward, after losing 33-26 to group leaders Paris Saint-Germain in France on Thursday. Next week they are taking on the Danish side Gudme in Bucharest.

And in Rugby Europe Championship, Group B, Romania plays this Saturday away from home against Portugal. Both teams are already qualified for the competition's semis and are playing for the top place in the group, which secures them a home match in the semi-finals against the second-ranking team in Group A. (AMP)