2021–22 Liga I

The 2021–22 Liga I (also known as Casa Liga 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the 104th season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season started on 15 July 2021 and is scheduled to end in May 2022.[1] It is the sixth to take place since the play-off/play-out rule has been introduced, and the second since the 2005–06 season to feature 16 teams. CFR Cluj are the four-time defending champions.

Liga I
Season2021–22
Dates15 July 2021 – 28 May 2022
Top goalscorerJefté Betancor
(9 goals)
Biggest home winFCSB 6–0 Dinamo București
(12 September 2021)
Biggest away winDinamo București 0–3 CFR Cluj
(7 November 2021)
Highest scoringUniversitatea Craiova 5–2 Mioveni
(30 October 2021)
Longest winning run7 matches
CFR Cluj
FCSB
Longest unbeaten run12 matches
FCSB
Longest winless run17 matches
Academica Clinceni
Longest losing run7 matches
Dinamo București
All statistics correct as of 27 November 2021.

The play-off/play-out rule is the same as in the previous season, the first six teams at the regular season will qualify for the play-off tournament and the last 10 for the play-out. The first 6 teams will play two matches against each other (as before), but in the play-out, the teams will play only one match against each other. At the end of the play-out first two places (7th and 8th) will play a single match on the ground of the 7th place ranked team, subsequently the winner will play against the last team ranked on a UEFA Europa Conference League spot in the play-off, only the winner of this second encounter will qualify for UEFA Europa Conference League.[2]

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

Teams

The league consists of 16 teams: 12 from the 2020–21 Liga I, two teams from the 2020–21 Liga II, and the winners of the 2020–21 promotion/relegation play-off.

Teams promoted to the Liga I

The first club to be promoted was FC U Craiova, following their 0–0 draw against Miercurea Ciuc on 13 May 2021. FC U Craiova returned in the Liga I after 10 years of absence.[3]

The second club to be promoted was Rapid București, following their 1–3 defeat against FC U Craiova on 17 May 2021. Rapid returned in the Liga I after 6 years of absence.[4]

The third club to be promoted was Mioveni, following their 2–1 win against Hermannstadt on 2 June 2021, in the promotion/relegation play-offs. Mioveni returned in the Liga I after 9 years of absence.[5]

Teams relegated to the Liga II

The first club to be relegated was Politehnica Iași, which were relegated on 15 May 2021 following a 0–1 defeat against Hermannstadt, ending their 7-year stay in the top flight.[6]

The second club to be relegated was Astra Giurgiu, which were relegated on 19 May 2021 following their 0–1 defeat against Viitorul Constanța, ending their 12-year stay in the top flight.[7]

The third club to be relegated was Hermannstadt, which were relegated on 2 June 2021 following their 1–2 defeat against Mioveni in the promotion/relegation play-offs, thus ending their 3-year stay in the top flight.[8]

Other changes

In June 2021, Gheorghe Hagi (owner of Viitorul Constanța), chairman Gheorghe Popescu and Farul Constanța owner Ciprian Marica announced in a press conference that their two clubs have merged; second division club Farul Constanța therefore took Viitorul's place in the first league from the 2021–22 Liga I season.[9][10][11]

Venues
FCSB Universitatea Craiova FC U Craiova CFR Cluj
Arena Națională Ion Oblemenco Ion Oblemenco Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Capacity: 55,634 Capacity: 30,929 Capacity: 30,929 Capacity: 23,500
Dinamo București Argeș Pitești Rapid București UTA Arad
Dinamo Nicolae Dobrin Rapid Francisc von Neuman
Capacity: 15,032 Capacity: 15,000 Capacity: 14,050 Capacity: 12,700
Chindia Târgoviște
Location of Bucharest teams.
 Mioveni
Municipal[lower-roman 1] Orășenesc
Capacity: 12,000 Capacity: 10,000
Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe Gaz Metan Mediaș
Sepsi Gaz Metan
Capacity: 8,400 Capacity: 7,814
Botoșani Voluntari Farul Constanța Academica Clinceni
Municipal Anghel Iordănescu Viitorul Clinceni
Capacity: 7,782 Capacity: 4,600 Capacity: 4,554 Capacity: 4,500
  1. Chindia Târgoviște was relocated to Municipal Stadium in Buzău, because Eugen Popescu Stadium in Târgoviște is under renovations.

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.

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Academica Clinceni Ionuț Chirilă Răzvan Patriche Joma Consiliul Județean Ilfov
Argeș Pitești Andrei Prepeliță Ionuț Șerban Macron Getica 95, MozzartBet
Botoșani Marius Croitoru Enriko Papa Erreà Trutzi, Elsaco
CFR Cluj Dan Petrescu Mário Camora Nike eToro
Chindia Târgoviște Emil Săndoi Daniel Florea Joma –
Dinamo București Mircea Rednic Gabriel Torje Macron Unibet
Farul Constanța Gheorghe Hagi Ionuț Larie Nike OMV Petrom
FCSB Anton Petrea Florin Tănase Nike
FC U Craiova Flavius Stoican Dragoș Albu Adidas Justice for Craiova
Gaz Metan Mediaș Mihai Teja Nasser Chamed Joma Romgaz
Mioveni Alexandru Pelici Ionuț Burnea Macron Mioveni
Rapid București Mihai Iosif Cristian Săpunaru Nike Superbet, Aqua City
Sepsi OSK Cristiano Bergodi Bogdan Mitrea Adidas Diószegi, Gyermelyi
Universitatea Craiova Laurențiu Reghecampf Nicușor Bancu Puma Betano
UTA Arad László Balint Florin Iacob Saller Efbet, International Alexander Holding
Voluntari Liviu Ciobotariu Cosmin Achim Nike Metropola TV

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
FC U Craiova Eugen Trică Sacked 24 May 2021[12] Pre-season Adrian Mutu 2 June 2021[13]
FCSB Anton Petrea End of contract 31 May 2021 Pre-season Dinu Todoran 1 June 2021[14]
CFR Cluj Edward Iordănescu End of contract 31 May 2021 Pre-season Marius Șumudică 2 June 2021[15]
Farul Constanța Ianis Zicu End of contract 31 May 2021 Pre-season Gheorghe Hagi 21 June 2021[16]
Dinamo București Dušan Uhrin Jr. Resigned 10 July 2021[17] Pre-season Dario Bonetti 14 July 2021[18]
Universitatea Craiova Marinos Ouzounidis Sacked 23 July 2021[19] 4 Laurențiu Reghecampf 26 July 2021[20]
FCSB Dinu Todoran Sacked 17 August 2021 4 Edward Iordănescu 18 August 2021
CFR Cluj Marius Șumudică Sacked 27 August 2021 1 Dan Petrescu 31 August 2021
Dinamo București Dario Bonetti Sacked 14 September 2021 14 Mircea Rednic 29 September 2021
Sepsi OSK Leontin Grozavu Sacked 7 October 2021 1 Cristiano Bergodi 8 October 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.[21]

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 CFR Cluj 20 18 0 2 31 8 +23 54 Qualification for the Play-off round
2 FCSB 20 14 4 2 38 17 +21 46
3 Voluntari 20 10 4 6 23 19 +4 34
4 Botoșani 20 8 9 3 20 18 +2 33
5 Universitatea Craiova 20 9 4 7 35 22 +13 31
6 Rapid București 20 8 7 5 25 20 +5 31
7 Farul Constanța 20 8 5 7 21 13 +8 29 Qualification for the Play-out round
8 Argeș Pitești 20 8 4 8 19 17 +2 28
9 UTA Arad 20 6 9 5 16 13 +3 27
10 Sepsi OSK 20 5 10 5 21 18 +3 25
11 Mioveni 20 5 5 10 13 27 −14 20
12 Chindia Târgoviște 20 4 7 9 12 17 −5 19
13 Gaz Metan Mediaș 20 5 4 11 16 24 −8 19
14 FC U Craiova 20 4 6 10 15 21 −6 18
15 Dinamo București 20 3 3 14 15 41 −26 12
16 Academica Clinceni 20 2 5 13 15 40 −25 11
Updated to match(es) played on 16 December 2021. 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.[21]

Results
Home \ Away ACA ARG BOT CFR CHI DIN FAR FCS FCU GAZ MIO RAP SPS UCV UTA VOL
Academica Clinceni 0–1 1–1 1–2 1–0 1–2 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–3 0–0
Argeș Pitești 0–1 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–1 3–2 0–1
Botoșani 1–0 0–0 0–2 0–0 1–1 2–1 0–2 2–2 2–1 1–1
CFR Cluj 2–0 1–0 1–0 4–1 3–2 2–1 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–0
Chindia Târgoviște 2–2 0–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 0–3 0–1 2–2 1–1 0–1
Dinamo București 3–1 0–2 1–2 0–3 1–0 – 0–0 0–1 1–1 2–2 3–2
Farul Constanța 5–0 0–2 3–0 0–1 2–0 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 0–0
FCSB 3–2 2–1 3–1 6–0 2–1 3–0 3–1 1–1 4–1 2–1
FC U Craiova 1–2 0–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2
Gaz Metan Mediaș 1–1 2–2 0–1 2–1 1–1 0–1 1–0 0–0 0–1 1–2
Mioveni 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–2 0–2 0–0
Rapid București 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–0 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 1–2 0–1
Sepsi OSK 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 4–1 1–0 1–2 2–2 0–0 1–2
Universitatea Craiova 5–0 1–0 1–2 5–0 2–3 1–0 5–2 1–1 0–0 3–0
UTA Arad 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–0 2–0
Voluntari 1–0 0–2 0–1 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 4–0 1–1
Updated to match(es) played on 16 December 2021. Source: LPF (in Romanian)
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Positions by round
Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930
Academica Clinceni161516161616161616161616161616161616
Argeș Pitești131414151314119899989997
Botoșani76333343222444466
CFR Cluj2211111111111111111111
Chindia Târgoviște1312151112101311101010101010101010
Dinamo București2846811141415151515151515151515
Farul Constanța75655454536898778
FCSB73544687643232222
FC U Craiova119107791012131313141112131414
Gaz Metan Mediaș41091215151515141414111313111313
Mioveni13161213108710111111121214141212
Rapid București41222222367676555
Sepsi OSK1481014131213121212131411121111
Universitatea Craiova4111389766975523334
UTA Arad76796535488767889
Voluntari11131114111298754355643
Leader and Qualification for the Play-off round
Qualification for the Play-off round
Qualification for the Play-out round
Source: Soccerway

Play-off round

The top six teams from Regular season will meet twice (10 matches per team) for places in 2022–23 UEFA Champions League and 2022–23 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.[22]

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.[22]

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.

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.

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of games played on 30 October 2021
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Jefté Betancor Farul 9
2 Andrei Ivan U Craiova 8
3 Deian Sorescu Dinamo 6
Jovan Markovic U Craiova
5 Juan Cascini Academica Clinceni 5
David Miculescu UTA Arad
Bogdan Rusu CS Mioveni
8 Claudiu Petrila CFR Cluj 4
Adrian Bălan Rapid
Vadim Rață FC Voluntari
Florin Tănase FCSB
Alexandru Albu Rapid
Cristian Costin FC Voluntari
Ioan Hora UTA Arad
Claudiu Keșerü FCSB

Clean Sheets
As of games played on 29 October 2021
Rank Player Club Clean Sheets
1 Florin Iacob UTA Arad 8
2 Horațiu Moldovan Rapid București 7
Mirko Pigliacelli Universitatea Craiova
4 Alexandru Greab FC Arges 6
Cristian Bălgrădean CFR Cluj
6 Eduard Pap FC Botosani 5
Cătălin Căbuz Chindia
8 Mihai Aioani FCV Farul Constanța 4
Mihai Popa FC Voluntari
Andrei Vlad FCSB

References
  1. "Ultima piesă din puzzle » Liga 1 și Liga 2 și-au stabilit componența finală pentru sezonul 2021-2022!". gsp.ro. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  2. 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. liga2.prosport.ro (in Romanian)
  3. "FC U Craiova a promovat în Liga 1! Sărbătoare pe „Ion Oblemenco"". gsp.ro. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  4. "Rapid - FC U Craiova 1-3 » Cel mai dulce eșec! Giuleștenii și oltenii, la braț spre Liga 1". gsp.ro. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  5. "Hermannstadt - CS Mioveni 1-2 » S-a încheiat prima finală pentru Liga 1! „Blestemul" a fost rupt: revine după 9 ani în „A"". gsp.ro. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  6. "Poli Iaşi, prima retrogradată matematic din Liga 1! Echipa din Copou se întoarce în Liga 2 după nouă ani". liga2.prosport.ro. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. "Astra, a doua echipă retrogradată direct din Liga 1. FC Hermannstadt și FC Voluntari merg la barajul de evitare a retrogradării cu echipele din play-off-ul Ligii 2". liga2.prosport.ro. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  8. "CS Mioveni dă lovitura la Mediaș și promovează în Liga 1. FC Hermannstadt retrogradează în Liga 2 după ce a terminat meciul în dublă inferioritate numerică". liga2.prosport.ro. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  9. "Viitorul și Farul Constanța au fuzionat. În Liga 1 va juca Farul, antrenor va fi Gheorghe Hagi, iar acționarii echipei sunt Hagi, Ciprian Marica și Zoltan Iasko" [Viitorul and Farul Constanța merged. Farul will play in the Liga I, Gheorghe Hagi will be the coach, and the team's shareholders are Hagi, Ciprian Marica and Zoltan Iasko] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  10. "Fuziunea Farul - Viitorul, anunțată oficial! Gică Hagi revine pe bancă. Ce nume va avea noua echipă" [The Farul - Viitorul merger, officially announced! Gica Hagi returns to the bench. What name will the new team have] (in Romanian). digisport.ro. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. "Viitorul și Farul Constanța au fuzionat: Gică Hagi va fi antrenor » Cum arată conducerea, primele transferuri + promisiune pentru un nou stadion" [Viitorul and Farul Constanța merged: Gică Hagi will be the coach »What the management looks like, the first transfers + promise for a new stadium] (in Romanian). gsp.ro. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  12. "Eugen Trică, reacție tranșantă după ce a fost demis de la FC U Craiova 1948: „Nu sunt Napoli, nu cred că voi mai antrena această echipă"". gsp.ro. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  13. "Adrian Mutu a semnat cu U Craiova 1948! Detaliile contractului, cum a fost convins + primele imagini". digisport.ro. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  14. "Gigi Becali, mutare-ȘOC: Dinu Todoran antrenor la FCSB! „L-am ales pentru că atunci când l-am sunat era la biserică"". gsp.ro. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  15. "Marius Șumudică, noul antrenor al echipei CFR Cluj". agerpres.ro. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  16. "Viitorul și Farul Constanța au fuzionat. În Liga 1 va juca Farul, antrenor va fi Gheorghe Hagi, iar acționarii echipei sunt Hagi, Ciprian Marica și Zoltan Iasko" [Viitorul and Farul Constanța merged. Farul will play in the Liga I, Gheorghe Hagi will be the coach, and the team's shareholders are Hagi, Ciprian Marica and Zoltan Iasko] (in Romanian). liga2.prosport.ro. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  17. "Dușan Uhrin i-a anunțat pe jucători și Iuliu Mureșan că își dă demisia de la Dinamo" [Dușan Uhrin announced the players and Iuliu Mureșan that he resignes at Dinamo] (in Romanian). ProSport. 10 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  18. "Dario Bonetti este antrenorul lui Dinamo! Pe ce perioadă a semnat" [Dario Bonetti is the coach of Dinamo! For what period did he sign] (in Romanian). Telekom Sport. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  19. "Marinos Ouzounidis, demis din funcția de antrenor al Universității Craiova! Cine îi ia locul pe banca tehnică" [Marinos Ouzounidis, sacked from Universității Craiova! Who will take his place] (in Romanian). DigiSport. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  20. "Reghecampf s-a întors în Liga 1. Ce echipă va antrena în acest sezon" [Reghecampf returned to Liga 1. Which team will he train this season] (in Romanian). Mediafax. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  21. "Liga I 2021/2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  22. "Liga I 2021/2022 - Regulamentul playoff/playout". digisport.ro. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
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