CL: Poli - VFB Stuttgart

A good opponent for what should prove an interesting tie.

German football may not be at its historic best, but the Bundesliga has become a tighter affair in recent years, with surprise winners picking up the league title, as evidence to show that a very strong field had formed behind and around Bayern Munchen. Stuttgart is part of that group and while it sold its main striker in the summer transfer period, the squad has been completed with two equally impressive players, in the likes of Pogrebnyak and Hleb. The question is how well these have adapted to the team, as well as how well the team can handle official matches with the season starting only yesterday in Germany.

There is no reason why we shouldn't believe qualification is possible, as if there even is any difference between Shakhtar and VFB, it has to be in favour of the Ukrainian team. True, we most likely won't hold out for another skirmish like the one at Donetsk, but hopefully the experience gained in these last two matches will help improve our player's belief and sheer focus.

First leg at home, on the 18th of August, return leg one week later.

Poli - Shakthar Donetsk 0:0

What a historic qualification! It's truly an achievement that was beyond our wildest dreams, especially if we think of the humiliation suffered only a few months ago against CFR Cluj in the Romanian Cup Final. But to beat the UEFA Cup holders, to make their Brazilians who are worth individually more than our whole team put together - it's a terrific feat. I would go so far as to say that this is the best result any Romanian team has obtained in the last few years, considering the pure strength in footballing terms of the opponent and the huge stakes to be had.

It was Nibombe's night, who put in a great performance, but it wouldn't have been anywhere near enough if Bourceanu hadn't tirelessly run after every ball, or if Bonfim hadn't been so composed through the entire game. It's clearly a team effort, because you can't defeat a stronger team if you don't present a perfect tactical approach, as well as a strong determination and belief, so heaps of praise also have to be gifted to Mr. Sabau. Our new manager has made an impression on the squad in only one month, he's created a strong unit with a relentless fighting spirit. Sure, the seeds had been planted by Dusan Uhrin Jr., but as Sabau's predecessor, Mr. Balint, proved, you have to know how to tend to those seeds, otherwise they'll bear no fruit.

The football might not have been amazing, I reckon the matches weren't even a joy to behold for the neutral spectator, but at this phase of the competition, winning is by far the most important goal. We'll find out on Friday who our next opponents will be, but I'm certain everyone will have realized by now that Politehnica Timisoara are no pushovers. Superb!

Poli: Pantilimon (6,5) - Bonfim (6,5), Cisovsky (6,5), Nibombe (7), Art. Karamyan (6) - Stancu (6), Bourceanu (7), Alexa (6), Arm. Karamyan (6) - Parks (6,5), Bucur (6)

Substitutions:

Scutaru (6) for Alexa (min 60)
Cl. Ionescu for Stancu (min 80)
Magera for Bucur (min 89)

Match highlights here.

Poli - Gloria Bistriţa 1:0 (0:0)

For the sake of information, Poli won the match against Gloria using a completely different line-up to the one from Donetsk. It was a tough game, given that the white-violets had their stadium suspended for this round, but in the end Poli prevailed thanks to a goal from Lukas Magera.

Poli: Taborda (6) - Badoi (5,5), Luchin (6), Scutaru (6), Latovlevici (5) - Stancu (5,5), Borbely (5,5), Vrsic (5,5), Arm. Karamyan (5,5) - Magera (6), Cl. Ionescu (6)

Substitutions:

Art. Karamyan (6) for Arman Karamyan (min 45)
Alexa (6) for Borbely (min 64)
Bucur (6) for Vrsic (min 64)

You can watch the clips at slightly superior quality on the host website, www.fanatik.ro.

Goal Magera (min 75):



Anca hits the post (min 4):



Magera hits the post (min 47):



C. Borbely off-side goal (min 65):

Shakhtar Donetsk - Poli 2:2 (0:1)

The white-violets put forth an astounding showcasing of cynical football, which would have been perfect if Bonfim hadn't blundered his way in offering two goals for the home side. In truth though, the result itself is more than we deserved as such and better than most people had hoped for, so there's clearly no reason why miracles shouldn't happen in the second leg.

Bucur scored both of Poli's goals, first after a great play by Parks (who got injured in the mean time) and secondly after a perfect counter-attack, and had he not converted the only two scoring chances we had this evening, it would've been a very different match. Shakhtar had plenty of opportunities, they even hit the post twice, but in the end they took advantage of the aforementioned errors, with Pantilimon helping as well at the second goal.

It's clear that we have to do even better at home to get through, particularly in terms of actual gameplay, but given our limited resources this result is an excellent achievement. There's still room for hope and that's all that I had hoped for.

Poli: Pantilimon (6) - Bonfim (3), Nibombe (6), Cisovsky (6,5), Artiom Karamyan (5,5) - Arm. Karamyan (5,5), Bourceanu (6,5), Alexa (6,5), Curtean (5,5) - Bucur (7,5), Parks (6,5)

Substitutions:

Magera (5) for Parks (min 27)
Stancu (5,5) for Alexa (min 71)
Ionescu for Bucur (min 91)

Friendlies Report

This will be updated as time goes by.

22.07: Poli - Wigan 2:0 (2:0)

Poli: Pantilimon - Bonfim, Nibombe, Cisovsky, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Parks, Bucur

Substitutions:

Luchin for Cisovsky (min 45)

Goals: Arm. Karamyan, Gigel Bucur

Video here.

20.07: Poli - FC Köln 0:2 (0:1)

Poli: Taborda - Bădoi, Scutaru, Brezinsky, Latovlevici - Stancu, Borbely, Vrsici, Maxim - Ionescu, Magera

Substitutions:

Mera for Brezinsky (min 45)
Cobliș for Taborda (min 45)
Luchin for Vrsici (min 62)
Cojocnean for Magera (min 62)
Chițu for Bădoi (min 67)

Video here.


18.07: Poli - Eintracht Frankfurt 3:0 (1:0)

Poli: Pantilimon - Bonfim, Mera, Luchin, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Parks, Bucur

Substitutions:

Magera pentru Bucur (min 56)
Borbely pentru Alexa (min 70)
Latovlevici pentru Curtean (min 77)
Bădoi pentru Bonfim (min 83)
Scutaru pentru Bourceanu (min 83)
Vrsic pentru Parks (min 83)

Goals: Luchin, Parks, Magera



16.07: Poli - Garmin Sencur 5:1 (2:1)

Poli (mostly first half): Pantilimon - Bonfim, Nibombe, Cisovsky, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Magera, Bucur

Poli (second half): Taborda - Badoi, Luchin, Mera, Latovlevici - Popa, Borbely, Vrsici, Stancu - Parks, Ionescu

Goals: Arman Karamyan, Gigel Bucur, Magera, Popa, Ionescu.

Video here.


14.07: Poli - Austria Karnten 7:0 (1:0)

Poli (first half): Pantilimon - Bonfim, Nibombe, Cisovsky, Artiom Karamyan - Arman Karamyan, Alexa, Bourceanu, Curtean - Parks, Bucur

Poli (second half): Taborda - Bădoi, Mera, Luchin, Latovleevici - Stancu, Borbely, Vrsic, Chițu - Ionescu, Magera

Goals: Arm. Karamyan, Magera, Ionescu, Borbely, Ionescu, Magera and Vrsic

Video here.


08.07: Poli - Debrecen: 1-1 (0-1)

Poli (until 55th minute): Pantilimon - Bădoi, Luchin, Cisovsky, Latovlevici - Arman Karamian, Alexa, Borbely, Artiom Karamian - Magera, G. Bucur

Poli (after 55th minute): Taborda- Bonfim, Nibombe, Stancu, Mera - Abiodun, Vrsic, Curtean (Ionescu?) - Parks, Chitu.

Goal: Vrsic


08.07: Poli - Debrecen 4:0 (0:0)

Poli (until 55th minute): Taborda - Dudaș, Jitaru, Scutaru, Maxim - Popa, Abiodun, Ionescu, Chițu - Amuneke, Mansour

Poli (after 55th minute): Coblia - Bonfim, Mera, Nibombe, Latovlevici - Stancu, Borbely, Vrsici, Curtean - Magera, Parks

Goals: Magera, Bonfim, Nibombe, Magera

Video here.

CL: Poli - Shakhtar Donetsk

The white-violets will face UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar in the third qualifying round for the Champions' League. The first leg will be played at Donetsk, on the 28th/29th of July and the return leg at Timisoara, one week later.

It should be an interesting match up, even though the Ukrainians were probably the least desirable opponent. I doubt Poli can surprise the world of football with a historic qualification, not after the sparse moves in terms of management during this summer break, but putting up a good fight would be the least we could do. And if that happens, you just never know...

This is the squad that was chosen by Mr. Sabau to take part in the pre-season training camp at Debrecen, Hungary. It should be noted that Sanchez and Garcia, who had both been on loan at Gloria Buzau, will be released, while Amuneke should be loaned out somewhere.

Goalkeepers: Pantilimon, Coblis, Taborda
Defenders: Stancu, Bădoi, Luchin, Cisovsky, Nibombe, Latovlevici, Maxim, Bonfim, Mera
Midfielders: Abiodun, Curtean, Alexa, Borbely, Vrsic, Artiom Karamyan, Bourceanu, Claudiu Ionescu, Chitu, Jitaru, Dudas
Forwards: Arman Karamyan, Bucur, Parks, Amuneke, Magera, Mansour