Fcsb Vs Metaloglobus Bucureşti — FCSB wins 4-1 but play-off fate still hangs by a thread
fcsb vs metaloglobus bucureşti ended in a 4-1 victory for FCSB on Monday night, but the result does little to simplify the champions' route into the play-off. The win moves FCSB to 43 points and seventh place with two regular-season rounds left, leaving qualification dependent on their remaining results and several specific outcomes elsewhere.
Fcsb Vs Metaloglobus Bucureşti — scoreline and match moments
In the last game of round 28, FCSB prevailed 4-1 over Metaloglobus in a fixture played on Monday, 23 February 2026, with kickoff scheduled at 20: 00 and broadcast on Digi Sport 1 as well as on the broadcaster's website and app for subscribers. The match was contested on a poor pitch in front of just over 2, 000 fans.
The game opened quickly: Daniel Bîrligea put FCSB ahead in the 6th minute after a precise pass from Pantea and a composed finish following a chest control. Metaloglobus equalised almost immediately, with Dragoș Huiban heading in after getting the better of João Paulo, who had been used at left-back. At the 13th minute Ofri Arad, making his debut, forced what was initially ruled a 2-1 goal from close range, but that finish was validated at first and subsequently overturned by the VAR review.
Standings: 43 points, seventh place and the arithmetic versus FC Argeș and CFR Cluj
The victory brought FCSB to 43 points and into seventh place, three points behind FC Argeș, with two regular-season rounds remaining. Because of that gap, FCSB must win its two remaining fixtures — away at UTA and at home against U Cluj — and still rely on precise results elsewhere to secure a play-off berth.
Three distinct scenarios were outlined as necessary if FCSB wins both remaining games: FC Argeș must collect a maximum of two points from its remaining matches (away to Dinamo and home to Unirea Slobozia); CFR Cluj must obtain a maximum of one point from its fixtures (away to Farul and home to Dinamo); or, assuming U Cluj loses the direct match with FCSB in the final round, U Cluj must finish with a maximum of one point at home against Oțelul. Without at least one of these outcomes, FCSB would still fail to qualify even with victories in its last two games.
Daniel Popa: winter arrival, past FCSB link and his message
Daniel Popa, 30, signed with Metaloglobus this winter after leaving Gençlerbirliği in September 2025. Popa previously wore the red-and-blue shirt in 2024–2025, when he was purchased by Gigi Becali for 300, 000 euros from U Cluj. Asked about facing his former club, Popa said he does not treat the match as special; he wants to enjoy football, stay healthy, lend his experience to help team-mates and work with coach Mihai Teja to integrate quickly. He acknowledged he did not integrate very well at FCSB, stressed he has no regrets and thanked people from the club for treating him with respect regardless of form.
Popa also noted he keeps in touch with Mihai Popescu, a former teammate from Dinamo, adding that he spoke with him the day before the match and was pleased that Popescu is reintegrating and will play. On celebrations, Popa said the reaction would depend on the minute he scores — if it comes in the 90th, he will certainly celebrate.
Imad Kassas and Metaloglobus perspective on the season
Imad Kassas, the owner of Metaloglobus and a known friend of Gigi Becali, prefaced the match by stressing that FCSB must win all their remaining games to have a chance at the play-off and that a single slip among the three remaining matches would likely end their hopes. Kassas reiterated that the tur (first leg) defeat to Metaloglobus was not the club's doing alone and said he expects the better team to prevail. He also reflected on Metaloglobus's recent promotion as a major achievement and argued that survival calculations become clearer once the regular season ends and points are halved; he added, half in jest, that the club would only be saved if several teams withdrew from the competition.
Wider picture: two seasons of contrasts and mounting defeats
What makes this notable is the scale of the reversal: FCSB, champion in the last two seasons, has already suffered 18 defeats in 47 matches this campaign, half of them in the championship. By comparison, last season the club conceded 10 defeats across 64 matches. The current run has left FCSB inside the play-out zone and facing the real possibility of missing the play-off for the first time since the competition adopted the present system in 2015–2016; they have registered more league defeats this season than U Cluj, FC Botoșani and UTA.
Match coverage was published Monday, 23 February 2026 at 21: 52 and updated at 21: 54.
