Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Match Preview
The Stadionul Oțelul hosts a vital clash in the Liga I mid-table battle this weekend as Oțelul Galați welcome struggling Unirea Slobozia.
Dorinel Munteanu’s Oțelul are pushing hard for a playoff spot (Top 6). Currently sitting 8th, they are just outside the elite group and come into this game with mixed feelings: a narrow 1-0 league loss to Dinamo Bucharest was quickly followed by a resilient 2-1 Cup victory over Csikszereda just days ago. The “Steelworkers” are tough to beat at home and will view this as a must-win fixture.
Unirea Slobozia, on the other hand, are in freefall. Adrian Mihalcea’s side has lost five consecutive league matches, failing to score in four of them. Sitting 13th and slipping dangerously close to the automatic relegation spots, confidence is at rock bottom. They face a daunting task against one of the most physically demanding teams in the league.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Quick Match Info
- Fixture: Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia
- Competition: Romania Liga I (Matchday 19)
- Venue: Stadionul Oțelul, Galați (Capacity: 13,500)
- Date: Saturday, 06 December 2025
- Kickoff Time: 17:00 EET / 16:00 CET / 20:30 IST
- Referee: TBC
- TV Channel (Romania): Digi Sport 1, Prima Sport 1
- Live Stream: Digi Online, Prima Play
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Match Context (2025/26 Season)
Oțelul Galați:
- Position: 8th in Liga I (24 Points).
- Form: Mixed but resilient. Their league form (D-D-L) has stalled slightly, but the Cup win keeps morale high. They are known for their defensive organization, conceding only 17 goals in 18 games.
- Current Challenge: Managing fatigue. Oțelul played a Cup match on December 2nd, meaning they have had less rest than their opponents.
Unirea Slobozia:
- Position: 13th in Liga I (18 Points).
- Form: Disastrous. Five straight losses (vs Botosani, Csikszereda, CFR Cluj, Arges, Rapid). They have conceded 9 goals and scored only 3 in that span.
- Current Challenge: Scoring goals. Their attack has completely dried up, and they look devoid of ideas in the final third.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — What’s at Stake
For Oțelul Galați:
- Playoff Pressure: With the gap to the Top 6 small, dropping points at home to a struggling team would be a massive blow to their playoff ambitions.
For Unirea Slobozia:
- Survival: A sixth straight loss would likely drag them into the bottom two. They desperately need a point to stop the bleeding.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Team Form
Oțelul Galați (Last 5 Matches):
- W vs Csikszereda M. Ciuc (2-1 – Cup)
- L vs Dinamo Bucharest (0-1)
- D vs Farul Constanta (2-2)
- D vs Petrolul (0-0)
- W vs FC Hermannstadt (3-1)
Unirea Slobozia (Last 5 Matches):
- L vs FC Botosani (0-1)
- L vs Csikszereda M. Ciuc (1-2)
- L vs CFR Cluj (0-1)
- L vs FC Arges (0-1)
- L vs Rapid Bucuresti (1-4)
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Team News
Oțelul Galați:
- Stefan Bana: Out (Illness).
- Kazu: Out (Injury – The Brazilian defender is unavailable).
- Fatigue Management: Expect rotation from Dorinel Munteanu. Stipe Juric might start upfront to freshen up the attack after the midweek Cup game. Juri Cisotti remains the key man in midfield.
Unirea Slobozia:
- Denis Rusu: Out (Calf Injury – A significant loss for their creative play).
- Tactical Shift: After five losses, Mihalcea might switch to a more defensive back five to try and grind out a 0-0 draw.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Head to Head
- 04 Aug 2025: Unirea Slobozia 0–0 Oțelul
- 18 Apr 2025: Oțelul 2–0 Unirea Slobozia
- 28 Feb 2025: Unirea Slobozia 0–1 Oțelul
- 27 Oct 2024: Oțelul 0–2 Unirea Slobozia
- 05 Nov 2022: Unirea Slobozia 1–0 Oțelul (Liga 2)
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Predicted Lineups
Oțelul Galați (4-3-3):
- GK: Iustin Popescu
- RB: David Maftei
- CB: Jonathan Cissé
- CB: Diego Zivulic
- LB: Miguel Silva
- CDM: João Lameira
- CM: Juri Cisotti (C)
- CM: Samuel Teles
- RW: Frédéric Maciel
- ST: Alexandru Pop
- LW: Răzvan Tănasă
Unirea Slobozia (5-4-1):
- GK: Denis Rusu (Note: If GK Rusu is the injured player, Stefan Georgescu starts) -> Stefan Georgescu
- RWB: Paolo Medina
- CB: Dmytro Pospielov
- CB: Gabriel Lazar
- CB: Ionut Dinu
- LWB: Constantin Toma
- RM: Adnan Aganovic
- CM: Andrei Dorobantu
- CM: Ovidiu Perianu
- LM: Christ Afalna
- ST: Jordan Gele
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Impact Bench Options
Oțelul Galați:
- Stipe Juric: The Bosnian striker is a great option off the bench to hold up the ball and win aerial duels if Oțelul are chasing a winner.
- Vasilije Djuric: Offers creativity in the final third.
Unirea Slobozia:
- Sekou Camara: Offers pace on the counter-attack, though service to him has been poor recently.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Tactical Outlook
Oțelul Galați:
- Playing Style: High Intensity Press. Munteanu’s team is built on fitness. They will look to suffocate Unirea in their own half and force errors. They rely heavily on Cisotti driving from deep and crosses towards Pop.
- Strength: Set Pieces. Unirea have been vulnerable defensively, and Oțelul’s physicality on corners (Zivulic, Cissé) will be a major threat.
Unirea Slobozia:
- Playing Style: Low Block. Unirea will park the bus. They will look to slow the game down, waste time, and hope for a lucky break or a set-piece goal.
- Weakness: Confidence. When you lose 5 in a row, heads drop easily. If Oțelul score early, Unirea could collapse.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Key Battles
| Matchup | Battle Type | Edge |
| Juri Cisotti vs. Ovidiu Perianu | Midfield Control: Cisotti is one of the best midfielders outside the top 3 teams. Perianu needs to disrupt him constantly. | Oțelul |
| Alexandru Pop vs. Dmytro Pospielov | Movement vs. Power: Pop never stops running. Pospielov is strong but slow. Pop will look to run the channels. | Oțelul |
| David Maftei vs. Christ Afalna | Flank Battle: Afalna is Unirea’s main outlet. Maftei loves to attack but must be careful not to leave space behind. | Oțelul |
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Spotlight Players
Juri Cisotti (Oțelul Galați):
The Italian captain is the heart and soul of this team. He scores, he assists, and he tackles. Against a weak Unirea midfield, he should dominate proceedings and dictate the tempo.
Jordan Gele (Unirea Slobozia):
The striker is isolated and frustrated. He has barely had a chance in recent weeks. He needs to make the most of the one or two half-chances he might get on the counter-attack.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Fan Reactions
Oțelul Fans:
“No excuses. Slobozia haven’t won in ages. We need 3 points for the playoffs!”
“Dorinel will not let them relax after the Cup win. Intensity from minute 1.”
Unirea Fans:
“It’s hard to watch right now. We look like a Liga 2 team.”
“Just fight. I don’t care if we lose, just show some passion.”
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Match-Defining Factors
- Fatigue vs. Form: Oțelul are tired (played midweek) but in good spirits. Unirea are rested but depressed (5 losses). Usually, good form beats rest in football.
- The First Goal: Unirea haven’t scored in their last 2 games. If Oțelul score first, it’s game over.
- Home Advantage: Galați is a tough place to go. The fans are close to the pitch and will pressure the visitors.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Prediction
Score Prediction: Oțelul Galați 2–0 Unirea Slobozia
Betting Insights:
- Outcome: Oțelul Galați to Win.
- Total Goals: Under 2.5 Goals (Oțelul are efficient; Unirea struggle to score).
- Clean Sheet: Oțelul Galați (Unirea have blanked in 4 of last 5).
Analysis: While Oțelul might be slightly heavy-legged from their Cup exploits, the gap in quality and confidence between these two sides is massive. Unirea Slobozia look like a team that has forgotten how to win. Expect a professional, controlled performance from the hosts to secure a vital victory in their playoff chase.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — Final Word
Oțelul Galați are firm favorites to pile more misery on Unirea Slobozia. Dorinel Munteanu’s machine is simply too organized and physically strong for a visiting side that is currently the worst-form team in the league.
Oțelul Galați vs Unirea Slobozia — FAQs
When is the Oțelul vs Unirea Slobozia match?
The match is expected to be played on Saturday, 06 December 2025.
Is Kazu playing?
No, Oțelul’s Kazu is out with an injury.
Where can I watch the match in Romania?
You can watch live on Digi Sport 1 and Prima Sport 1.
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