The stakes are high as FC Botoșani and AFC Hermannstadt face off in the second round of the Cupa României on December 3, 2025. This isn't just another cup tie; it's a clash where Botoșani seeks to assert dominance after recently dismantling Hermannstadt with a decisive 2-0 victory in league play, while Hermannstadt fights to reclaim respect and turn the tide from their lackluster recent form. The tension is palpable-can Hermannstadt turn the tables, or will Botoșani extend their reign?
Predicted Lineups
Expect both teams to stick to their recent formations, which have proven effective, despite mixed results:
- Botoșani: GK: Giannis Anestis, DEF: Răzvan Creț, Pape Djibril Diaw, Andrei Miron, Michael Pavlović, MID: Charles Petro, Enriko Papa, Sebastian Mailat, Hervin Ongenda, Zoran Mitrov, FWD: Mykola Kovtaliuk.
- Hermannstadt: GK: Cătălin Căbuz, DEF: Florin Bejan, Andreas Karo, Tiberiu Căpușă, MID: Kevin Ciubotaru, Jair, Dragoș Albu/Nana Antwi; FWD: Cristian Neguț (C), Aurelian Chițu.
FC Botoșani enters this fixture on a moderately positive note with three draws and two victories from their last five matches. They've managed one clean sheet but also faced periods of struggle in holding possession against better opposition. Their ability to withstand pressure has been commendable; take note of goalkeeper Giannis Anestis who stood tall against Dinamo București's barrage last week with nine saves.
Conversely, the pressure mounts for AFC Hermannstadt, who are reeling from a run that includes only one win out of five matches. Their squad has displayed flashes of creativity but lacks the finishing touch-evidenced by a shocking 3-3 draw against FCSB where they were guilty of defensive lapses leading to easy goals for their opponents. With their recent trend being marked by inconsistency and lack of composure under pressure-surrendering leads and dropping points late-their need for points couldn't be greater.
Diving into the statistics reveals significant tactical patterns that could play a role in deciding this match. While FC Botoșani held an impressive pass accuracy rate of 80% against Hermannstadt during their last encounter-a figure higher than their season average-they've shown vulnerabilities in defensive transition when pressured aggressively. In contrast, AFC Hermannstadt's disjointed passing game continues to plague them with an overall accuracy below 70%. Against such well-organized opposition as Botoșani's 4-2-3-1 formation employs regularly-and given Hermannstadt's ongoing struggles transitioning into an attacking shape-it's clear they'll need to find creative solutions quickly.
Key players will undoubtedly influence the outcome: Look out for Mykola Kovtaliuk and Charles Petro stepping up once again for Botoșani as they did in October when they exploited spaces effectively. Kovtaliuk's movement can prove lethal if he gets past Hermannstadt's defense like he did previously; meanwhile Petro's ball control allows him to weave through defenses-he must deliver again at Stadionul Municipal.
On the other side of the pitch lies Cristian Neguț who is crucial for any hopes Hermannstadt holds going forward. His ability to find space behind defenders coupled with his poaching instincts could prove vital if they are to capitalize on fleeting opportunities against what should be a well-disciplined backline.
One can't overlook previous meetings either: FC Botoșani has shown themselves superior in head-to-head confrontations recently winning all encounters this season convincingly-including that last league clash which saw them boss midfield while suffocating any real attacking threat from Hermannstadt. Despite sitting slightly lower on points within Liga I standings earlier this month-those numbers hardly tell the story when you compare relative performance metrics head-to-head!
Given both teams' current trajectories-coupled with how effectively Botoșani executed their tactics last time around-it looks increasingly likely that FC Botoșani will command yet another impressive display versus AFC Hermannstadt come Sunday afternoon. Expect them not just to edge out on scorelines but demonstrate tactical superiority throughout proceedings: watch for those incisive passes threading through lines toward goal; this team has sharpened its blades just in time!
So here we go: brace yourselves! Mark it down now: FC Botoșani walks away victorious once more-expect a scoreline echoing earlier engagements as they might just hit two or more goals again while restricting any real threat from opponents still grasping at straws searching desperately for momentum! The resilience tested...now let's see who truly rises!