Spring review: Romania ready for restart

A thrilling second half of the season is in store in Romania with FC Dinamo Bucuresti leading city rivals FC National Bucuresti by just two points.

Big two meet
The next two months of action should produce some reasonably tense affairs, starting with the round 17 capital clash between Dinamo and fourth-placed FC Rapid Bucuresti, who trail Dinamo by six points. In third place are champions FC Steaua Bucuresti, four points adrift of the leaders and in round 18 they meet National at home in what could prove to be one of the key confrontation's of the season.

New arrivals
During the winter break all the leading clubs have been active in the transfer market. Dinamo have bought the midfield player Costel Ilie and striker Ionel Danciulescu, but sold defender Vali Nastase, striker Adrian Mihalcea and midfield player Romulus Buia while loaning midfield players Dorin Semeghin and Bogdan Aldea to FC Petrolul Ploiesti. Dinamo coach Ion Marin has claimed that his team's problems are in attack where they have been unable to replace the departed Mihalcea and Sabin Ilie.

Crucial absentee
Rivals Rapid brought in four new players to strengthen their squad: Goalkeeper Bogdan Stelea, defender Cornel Buta and midfield players Dennis Serban and Robert Ilyes, while saying goodbye to Nicolae Constantin, Narcis Raducan (on loan,) Dorel Mutica and Milos Bogdanovic. Unfortunately for coach Viorel Hizo, experienced striker Marius Sumudica suffered an injury during a training session and will be absent for the next three weeks, including the key game against Dinamo, leaving the team with just three fit strikers.

Young at heart
Surprise package National, with the youngest coach in the country, 32-year-old Cosmin Olaroiu, have sold striker Radu Niculescu and defender Daniel Prodan, but at the same time brought in former top scorer Marian Savu, defender Leonard Nemtanu and the striker Dejan Micic. Most importantly of all though for the team is the fact that they resisted Steaua's overtures for key midfield player Gabi Popescu and striker Slavisa Mitrovic.

Current champions
Champions Steaua have been hunting for new players mainly from the second division, including midfield player Silvian Cristescu and defender Cristian Schiopu. Leaving the club though were Ionel Danciulescu, Valeriu Bordeanu and Iulian Miu. Winning the Super Cup against Dinamo though has proved that the club have the potential to defend their title.

Up for grabs
Dinamo remain the slight favourites to win the championship, but writing off the chances of underdogs National, or champions Steaua, would be foolish.