2020–21 Liga I

The 2020–21 Liga I (also known as Casa Liga 1 for sponsorship reasons) was the 103rd season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season started on 21 August 2020 and ended on 19 May 2021.[1] CFR Cluj were winners and three-time defending champions. It was the sixth season to take place in the play-off/play-out format, and the first since the 2005–06 season to feature 16 teams.

Liga I
Season2020–21
Dates21 August 2020 – 27 May 2021
ChampionsCFR Cluj
RelegatedHermannstadt
Astra Giurgiu
Politehnica Iași
Champions LeagueCFR Cluj
Europa Conference LeagueFCSB
Universitatea Craiova
Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe
Matches played256
Goals scored570 (2.23 per match)
Top goalscorerFlorin Tănase
(24 goals)
Best goalkeeperMirko Pigliacelli
(16 clean sheets)
Biggest home winFCSB 5–0 Hermannstadt
(26 October 2020)
Biggest away winUTA Arad 0–6 Astra Giurgiu
(21 December 2020)
Highest scoringPolitehnica Iași 5–2 FCSB
(27 September 2020)
Academica Clinceni 4-3 Botoșani
(14 May 2021)
Longest winning run7 matches
FCSB
Universitatea Craiova
Longest unbeaten run11 matches
Argeș Pitești
Longest winless run13 matches
Dinamo București
Longest losing run5 matches
Politehnica Iași
Dinamo București
Gaz Metan Mediaș
Highest attendance0 (behind closed doors)
Lowest attendance0 (behind closed doors)
Total attendance0 (behind closed doors)
Average attendance0 (behind closed doors)
All statistics correct as of 19 May 2021.

The play-off/play-out rule was also altered, with the first six teams at the regular season qualified for the play-off tournament and the last ten for the play-out. The first six teams played two matches against each other as before, but in the play-out the teams only played once against each other. At the end of the play-out, the first two places (or the 7th and 8th overall) played a single match on the ground of the lower ranked team, and the subsequent winner played the last team ranked on a UEFA Europa Conference League spot in the play-off. The winner of the latter encounter qualified for the Europa Conference League.[2]

The teams ranked 15th and 16th at the end of the play-out tournament were directly relegated, while the 13th and 14th places played a promotion/relegation play-off against 3rd and 4th places from Liga II.[2]

Teams

The league consists of 16 teams: 13 from the 2019–20 Liga I, two teams from the 2019–20 Liga II, and the winner of the 2019–20 promotion/relegation play-off.

Teams promoted to the Liga I

The first club to be promoted was UTA Arad, following their 1–1 draw against FC Argeș on 2 August 2020. UTA returned in the Liga I after 12 years of absence.[3]

The second club to be promoted was FC Argeș, following their 1–1 draw against UTA Arad on 2 August 2020. FC Argeș returned in the Liga I after 11 years of absence.[4]

Teams relegated to the Liga II

No teams were relegated from the 2019–20 Liga I.

Initially, two clubs would have been relegated at the end of the 2019–20 Liga I season, with a third playing a relegation play-off with the 3rd-placed team from the 2019–20 Liga II. The first club to have been relegated would have been Chindia Târgoviște, following a 0–1 defeat on 2 August 2020 against Politehnica Iași, ending their 1-year stay in the top flight.[5] However, owing to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the previous season, the league table was frozen on 6 August 2020[6] and no teams were directly relegated. Instead, Chindia Târgoviște played a promotion/relegation play-off against CS Mioveni and kept their Liga I spot after a 3–1 aggregate result.

Venues

FCSBUniversitatea CraiovaCFR ClujDinamo București
Arena NaționalăIon OblemencoDr. Constantin RădulescuDinamo
Capacity: 55,634Capacity: 30,929Capacity: 23,500Capacity: 15,032
FC ArgeșUTA AradChindia TârgoviștePolitehnica Iași
Nicolae DobrinFrancisc von NeumanMunicipal[i]Emil Alexandrescu
Capacity: 15,000Capacity: 12,700Capacity: 12,000Capacity: 11,390
Astra GiurgiuGaz Metan Mediaș
Marin AnastasoviciGaz Metan
Capacity: 8,500Capacity: 7,814
FC BotoșaniSepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe
MunicipalMunicipal
Capacity: 7,782Capacity: 5,200
Hermannstadt SibiuVoluntariViitorul ConstanțaAcademica Clinceni
Gaz Metan[ii]Anghel IordănescuViitorulClinceni
Capacity: 7,814Capacity: 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 Ilie Poenaru Răzvan PatricheJomaNicmar Prima Service
Argeș Pitești Andrei Prepeliță Ionuț ȘerbanMacronPrimăria Pitești, Getica 95
Astra Giurgiu Ionuț Badea Valerică GămanJomaTinmar Energy
Botoșani Marius Croitoru Jonathan RodríguezErreàElsaco
CFR Cluj Edward Iordănescu Mário CamoraNikeNTT Data
Chindia Târgoviște Emil Săndoi Daniel FloreaJomaConsiliul Județean Dâmbovița
Dinamo București Dušan Uhrin Jr. Ante PuljićMacronUnibet
FCSB Anton Petrea Florin TănaseNikeCity Insurance
Gaz Metan Mediaș Mihai Teja Răzvan PleșcaJomaRomgaz
Hermannstadt Eugen Beza Răzvan DâlbeaJomaro:Superbet, Natur House
Politehnica Iași Nicolò Napoli Andrei CristeaJomaSuperbet
Sepsi OSK Leontin Grozavu Rachid BouhennaAdidasDiószegi, Gyermelyi
Universitatea Craiova Marinos Ouzounidis Nicușor BancuPumaBetano
UTA Arad László Balint Ciprian RusSallerEfbet, International Alexander Holding
Viitorul Constanța Cătălin Anghel Romario BenzarNikeOMV Petrom
Voluntari Liviu Ciobotariu Cosmin AchimMacron-

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPosition in tableIncoming managerDate of appointment
Politehnica Iași Mircea RednicEnd of contract7 August 2020[7]Pre-season Daniel Pancu11 August 2020[8]
Viitorul Constanța Gheorghe HagiMutual agreement7 August 2020Pre-season Rubén de la Barrera7 August 2020[9]
Dinamo București Gheorghe MulțescuMutual agreement26 August 2020[10]7 Cosmin Contra26 August 2020[11]
Gaz Metan Mediaș Dušan Uhrin Jr.Sacked24 September 2020[12]6 Jorge Costa30 September 2020[13]
Universitatea Craiova Cristiano BergodiSacked7 November 20201 Corneliu Papură13 November 2020
Viitorul Constanța Rubén de la BarreraSacked30 November 20207 Mircea Rednic2 December 2020
CFR Cluj Dan PetrescuSacked30 November 20203 Edward Iordănescu3 December 2020
Dinamo București Cosmin ContraMutual Agreement3 December 202012 Ionel Gane4 December 2020
Argeș Pitești Ionuț MoșteanuSacked12 December 202016 Andrei Prepeliță13 December 2020
Voluntari Mihai TejaSacked28 December 202013 Bogdan Andone29 December 2020
Hermannstadt Rubén AlbésSacked14 January 202114 Liviu Ciobotariu15 January 2021
Politehnica Iași Daniel PancuSacked28 January 202116 Andrei Cristea29 January 2021
Gaz Metan Mediaș Jorge CostaSacked1 February 202110 Mihai Teja1 February 2021
Universitatea Craiova Corneliu PapurăSacked1 February 20213 Marinos Ouzounidis5 February 2021
Viitorul Constanța Mircea RednicSacked8 April 202113 Cătălin Anghel11 April 2021
Voluntari Bogdan AndoneSacked8 May 202114 Liviu Ciobotariu8 May 2021
Astra Giurgiu Eugen NeagoeSacked8 May 202113 Ionuț Badea9 May 2021

Regular season

In the regular season the 16 teams will meet twice for a total of 30 matches per team, with the top 6 advancing to the Championship play-offs and the bottom 10 qualifying for the relegation play-outs.[14]

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1FCSB3020555722+3565Qualification for the Play-off round
2CFR Cluj3019744215+2764
3Universitatea Craiova30161043314+1958
4Sepsi OSK30101554331+1245
5Academica Clinceni30101463026+444
6Botoșani30119103936+342
7Argeș Pitești301010103341−840Qualification for the Play-out round
8Chindia Târgoviște30109112426−239
9Astra Giurgiu30911103839−138
10UTA Arad30910112636−1037
11Gaz Metan Mediaș3096153341−833
12Voluntari3088143240−832
13Viitorul Constanța30613113637−131
14Dinamo București3076172641−1527
15Hermannstadt30511142840−1226
16Politehnica Iași3074192964−3525
Source: LPF (in Romanian), Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-off.[14]


Results

Home \ AwayACAARGASTBOTCFRCHIDINFCSGAZHERIASSPSUCVUTAVIIVOL
Academica Clinceni1–01–12–11–20–01–10–22–00–02–12–00–00–31–00–1
Argeș Pitești1–11–02–30–23–10–10–01–12–22–11–11–21–11–02–1
Astra Giurgiu0–20–21–10–20–02–00–33–02–14–02–21–10–01–12–3
Botoșani0–00–11–12–10–24–00–22–11–04–01–20–02–31–01–1
CFR Cluj3–15–01–12–10–01–02–01–21–04–00–00–00–12–10–0
Chindia Târgoviște2–12–20–12–30–11–00–21–01–31–11–21–01–11–11–0
Dinamo București1–31–21–11–10–20–10–12–11–14–10–00–10–10–53–0
FCSB0–13–03–04–13–01–03–21–05–03–11–10–03–03–02–1
Gaz Metan Mediaș1–12–00–01–20–11–01–32–31–12–10–30–21–21–02–0
Hermannstadt2–24–10–12–11–31–10–21–01–10–11–20–11–10–03–2
Politehnica Iași0–01–12–30–10–21–01–05–21–41–01–40–31–20–30–2
Sepsi OSK0–01–04–12–20–10–12–01–11–11–13–30–13–01–12–2
Universitatea Craiova0–11–12–01–00–00–11–00–23–11–01–00–02–01–12–1
UTA Arad0–01–20–60–00–11–00–10–11–31–12–32–01–20–00–0
Viitorul Constanța1–12–24–11–21–10–02–12–20–22–11–23–31–41–10–1
Voluntari3–30–11–31–10–10–21–12–12–11–04–01–21–10–10–2
Source: LPF (in Romanian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Academica Clinceni121110128101387555555556556666655555
Argeș Pitești11151415151515151414151616161616151212121312107987787
Astra Giurgiu16161516161616161616161514131012121313131213131010108899
Botoșani2224581058111111108810107775555566666
CFR Cluj344223333333333222222222222222
Chindia Târgoviște147710139579888877775667789879978
Dinamo București712129121414141515141291011881111910111112131314141414
FCSB115332222111211111111111111111
Gaz Metan Mediaș1366691112131099101314129991010118911111212131311
Hermannstadt891176561112121213121114141414141514151414151515151515
Politehnica Iași58974791213131314151515151616161616161616161616161616
Sepsi OSK15131313106444444444444444444444444
Universitatea Craiova631111111222122333333333333333
UTA Arad9108111112116576779911111091189787910101010
Viitorul Constanța101416141413896676666668889101213121111111113
Voluntari4535747101110109111213131315151415141515141413121212
Leader and Qualification for the Play-off round
Qualification for the Play-off round
Qualification for the Play-out round
Source: [citation needed]

Play-off round

The top six teams from Regular season will meet twice (10 matches per team) for places in 2021–22 UEFA Champions League, 2021–22 UEFA Europa League, and 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference 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.[15]

Play-off table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationCFRFCSUCVSPSACABOT
1CFR Cluj (C)10712155+1054Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round2–01–20–13–02–0
2FCSB103341314−145Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round1–10–11–22–22–1
3Universitatea Craiova10334911−2411–32–00–00–02–3
4Sepsi (O)10523118+340Qualification to European competition play-offs0–12–22–01–01–0
5Academica Clinceni103251015−5330–10–21–02–14–3
6Botoșani103161318−5310–11–31–12–12–1
Source: [1], FRF (in Romanian), LPF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without rounding; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off (only if needed to decide champion or teams for UEFA competitions). (Note: only criteria 6 and 7 are applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[16]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

Positions by round

Team ╲ Round3031323334353637383940
CFR Cluj22221111111
FCSB11112222222
Universitatea Craiova33333333333
Sepsi44444444444
Academica Clinceni55566666655
Botoșani66655555566
Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round
Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round
Qualification to European competition play-offs
Source: FRF

Play-out round

The bottom ten teams from the regular season meet once to contest against relegation. Teams started the play-out 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 finish 7th in the overall season standings, the second placed team – 8th, and so on, with the last placed team in the Relegation round being 16th.[15]

Play-out table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegationCHIUTAGAZVIIARGDINVOLHERASTIAS
7Chindia Târgoviște944173+436Qualification to European competition play-offs1–10–22–00–02–0
8UTA Arad[a]941479−232[b]0–11–01–00–11–2
9Gaz Metan Mediaș[c]94321510+532[b]1–14–11–12–14–2
10Viitorul Constanța (M)951394+532[b]Merged with Farul Constanța after qualification to European competition play-offs1–01–01–21–0
11Argeș Pitești9324107+331[d]0–14–11–23–00–0
12Dinamo București9522118+331[d]0–00–12–02–0
13Voluntari (O)933367−128Qualification for the relegation play-offs0–00–01–00–1
14Hermannstadt (R)941469−3261–20–01–01–3
15Astra Giurgiu (R)9126612−624Relegation to 2021–22 Liga II1–20–10–00–31–2
16Politehnica Iași (R)9216715−8200–31–20–10–1
Source: Soccerway, FRF (in Romanian), LPF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without rounding; 3) Points in the regular season; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored; 6) Play-off (only if needed to decide teams for relegation). (Note: only criteria 4 and 5 are applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[17]
(M) Merged with another team; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:


Positions by round

Team ╲ Round30313233343536373839
Chindia Târgoviște8777777777
UTA Arad1088891091098
Gaz Metan Mediaș11111312119109119
Viitorul Constanța13131213131314121210
Argeș Pitești791098888811
Dinamo București14141415141412111012
Voluntari12121111121213141313
Hermannstadt15161614151515151514
Astra Giurgiu910910101111131415
Politehnica Iași16151516161616161616
Qualification to European competition play-offs
Qualification for the relegation play-offs
Relegation to 2021–22 Liga II
Qualification to European competition play-offs
Source: FRF

European play-offs

In the semi-final, the 7th and 8th-placed teams of the Liga I plays a one-legged match on the ground of the better placed team (7th place). In the final, the winner of the semi-final will encounter the team ranked on the last UEFA Europa Conference League spot in the play-off tournament. The winner of the final will enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.

European play-off semi-final

European play-off final

Promotion/relegation play-offs

The 13th and 14th-placed teams of the Liga I faces the 3rd and 4th-placed team of the Liga II.

Team 1Agg.Tooltip Aggregate scoreTeam 21st leg2nd leg
Dunărea Călărași1–6Voluntari1–20–4
Mioveni2–1Hermannstadt0–02–1

First leg

Second leg

2 June 2021 Hermannstadt1–2 Mioveni Mediaș
19:00 EEST (UTC+3)Yazalde 21'Massaro 72'
Panait 90+3'
Stadium: Gaz Metan
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic (Cluj-Napoca)

Season statistics

Top scorers

As of games played on 20 May 2021[18][19][20]
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Florin TănaseFCSB24
2 Cephas MaleleFC Argeș18
3 Dennis ManFCSB14
Hamidou KeytaBotoșani
4 Ciprian DeacCFR Cluj13
5 Alexandru CicâldăuUniversitatea Craiova11
6 Kevin LuckassenViitorul Constanța9
Ronaldo DeaconuGaz Metan
7 Constantin BudescuAstra Giurgiu8
Gabriel DebeljuhCFR Cluj
Olimpiu MorutanFCSB

Top assists

As of games played on 23 April 2021
RankPlayerClubAssists
1 Olimpiu MoruțanFCSB15
2 Constantin BudescuAstra Giurgiu8
3 Deian SorescuDinamo București7
Ronaldo DeaconuGaz Metan Medias
5 Petrișor PetrescuHermannstadt6
6 Florinel ComanFCSB5
Dan NistorUniversitatea Craiova
Juan Pablo PassagliaPolitehnica Iași
Ciprian DeacCFR Cluj
Adrian PăunCFR Cluj

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Dennis ManFCSBFC Argeș3–0 (H)20 September 2020
Andrei CristeaPolitehnica IașiFCSB5–2 (H)27 September 2020
Constantin BudescuAstra GiurgiuUTA Arad6–0 (A)21 December 2020
Notes

(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Double

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Marko DugandžićBotoșaniPolitehnica Iași4–0 (H)30 August 2020
Valentin GheorgheAstra GiurgiuSepsi OSK2–2 (H)13 September 2020
Elvir KoljićUniversitatea CraiovaViitorul Constanța4–1 (A)14 September 2020
Gabriel IancuViitorul ConstanțaAstra Giurgiu4–1 (H)26 September 2020
Jefté BetancorVoluntariAstra Giurgiu3–2 (A)3 October 2020
Florin TănaseFCSBDinamo București3–2 (H)3 October 2020
Cephas MaleleFC ArgeșViitorul Constanța2–2 (A)25 October 2020
Vlad MorarUTA AradBotoșani2–3 (A)31 October 2020
Cosmin AchimVoluntariPolitehnica Iași4–0 (H)7 November 2020
Dennis ManFCSBBotoșani4–1 (H)7 November 2020
Florin Tănase (2)FCSBBotoșani4–1 (H)7 November 2020
Mario RondónCFR ClujFC Argeș2–0 (H)8 November 2020
Nicolao DumitruGaz Metan MediașUTA Arad3–1 (A)9 November 2020
Borja ValleDinamo BucureștiVoluntari3–0 (H)20 November 2020
Darius OlaruFCSBGaz Metan Mediaș3–2 (A)23 November 2020
Ciprian DeacCFR ClujPolitehnica Iași2–0 (A)6 December 2020
Hamidou KeytaBotoșaniViitorul Constanța2–1 (A)15 December 2020
Cephas Malele (2)FC ArgeșHermannstadt2–2 (H)16 December 2020
Pavol ŠafrankoSepsi OSKUTA Arad3–0 (H)17 December 2020
Dennis Man (2)FCSBUniversitatea Craiova2–0 (A)18 December 2020
Shlomi AzulayAstra GiurgiuUTA Arad6–0 (A)21 December 2020
Ze ManuelGaz Metan MediașFC Voluntari2–0 (H)12 January 2021
Florin Tănase (3)FCSBAstra Giurgiu3–0 (H)14 January 2021
Hamidou Keyta (2)FC BotoșaniDinamo București4–0 (H)24 January 2021
Kevin LuckassenFC ViitorulSepsi OSK3–3 (H)26 January 2021
Andrei CiobanuFC ViitorulDinamo Bucuresti5–0 (A)26 February 2021
Antoni IvanovFC VoluntariPolitehnica Iași2–0 (A)1 March 2021
Ciprian Deac (2)CFR ClujFC Arges5–0 (H)1 March 2021
Cephas Malele (3)FC ArgeșPolitehnica Iași2–1 (H)8 March 2021
Ciprian Deac (3)CFR ClujPolitehnica Iași4–0 (H)14 March 2021
YazaldeFC HermannstadtFC Arges4–1 (H)3 April 2021
Cephas Malele (4)FC ArgesChindia3–1 (H)9 April 2021
Florin Tanase (4)FCSBAcademica Clinceni2–0 (A)22 April 2021
Notes


(H) – Home team
(A) – Away team

Clean sheets

As of games played on 23 April 2021
RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Mirko PigliacelliUniversitatea Craiova19
2 Andrei VladFCSB17
3 Cristian BălgrădeanCFR Cluj16
4 Octavian VâlceanuAcademica Clinceni14
5 Mihai AioaniChindia Târgovişte13
6 Florin IacobUTA Arad10
7 Roland NiczulySepsi OSK9
David LazarAstra Giurgiu
9 Victor RîmniceanuVoluntari8
10 Valentin CojocaruViitorul Constanta6
Alexandru GreabArgeș Pitești

Discipline

As of games played on 16 February 2021

Player

Team

  • Most yellow cards: 74
    • Hermannstadt
    • Gaz Metan Mediaș
  • Most red cards: 6
    • Botoșani
  • Fewest yellow cards: 34
    • Universitatea Craiova
  • Fewest red cards: 0
    • CFR Cluj

Champion squad

CFR Cluj[21][22]

Goalkeepers: Giedrius Arlauskis (6 / 0); Cristian Bălgrădean (26 / 0); Rareș Murariu (1 / 0); Grzegorz Sandomierski (11 / 0).
Defenders: Syam Ben Youssef (7 / 0); Kévin Boli (1 / 0); Andrei Burcă (35 / 2); Mihai Butean (1 / 0); Mário Camora (35 / 0); Mike Cestor (6 / 0); Denis Ciobotariu (11 / 1); Cristian Manea (26 / 0); Iasmin Latovlevici (7 / 0); Paulo Vinícius (25 / 3); Mateo Sušić (26 / 0).
Midfielders: Luís Aurélio (11 / 0); Mihai Bordeianu (12 / 0); Nicolae Carnat (10 / 0); Alexandru Chipciu (30 / 2); Valentin Costache (35 / 4); Ciprian Deac (34 / 13); Damjan Đoković (16 / 0); Adrian Gîdea (21 / 1); Ovidiu Hoban (28 / 1); Cătălin Itu (24 / 3); Dodi Joca (5 / 0); Sebastian Mailat (1 / 0); Michaël Pereira (21 / 0); Rúnar Sigurjónsson (12 / 3); Adrian Păun (39 / 5); Claudiu Petrila (6 / 1); William Soares (16 / 0); Ivica Žunić (1 / 0).
Forwards: Gabriel Debeljuh (32 / 8); Cătălin Golofca (1 / 0); Gheorghe Gondiu (1 / 0); Billel Omrani (16 / 3); Mario Rondón (29 / 5); Jakub Vojtuš (7 / 0).
(league appearances and goals listed in brackets)

Manager: Dan Petrescu / Edward Iordănescu.

Awards

Liga I Team of the Season

Liga I Team of the 2020–21 Season[23] – Liga Profesionistă de Fotbal

References