Bucharest big guns rule in Romania

Steaua success
Steaua advanced to the last 16 of last season's competition and have continued to prosper this time around, while their neighbours have matched their achievement. In addition, Steaua lead the way from Dinamo in the First Division, much like last term when they pipped Dinamo to the title by a point.

Capital gains
The last time the championship went to a side from outside the capital was 1990/91, when FC Universitatea Craiova edged out Steaua on goal difference, and eight matches into the campaign it is hard to envisage a provincial team triumphing. The great white hope were FC Politehnica AEK Timisoara who invested heavily over the summer. They have won only two of their eight games and lie ninth on ten points, ten behind Steaua.

Cluj class
UEFA Intertoto Cup finalists CFR Cluj have started strongly under player-manager Dorinel Munteanu. Yet having kicked off with three draws and four wins, fourth-placed Cluj succumbed 2-1 at home to promoted CS Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu last Saturday. Their conquerors had lost the opening six matches of their first-ever top-flight season, but now have two wins.

Farul in form
FC Farul Constanta lie third on 17 points, having lost just once, and look well-placed to build on their fourth place of 2004/05 which made them the top-ranked team outside Bucharest. Dinamo have two points more after winning four of their last five games - including a 5-2 demolition of seventh-placed Rapid - and have 24 goals so far, nine more than the next best.

Steaua stroll
That is not enough to overhaul Steaua, however, who have 20 points and the division's only unbeaten record, having won six, drawn two and conceded just three goals. At the other end of the table, FC Vaslui remain the only winless side despite replacing coach Basarab Panduru with Mircea Rednic, who led them to promotion last season.