Liga 1 Standings (After 26 matches - March 2017):
CFR Cluj - 61 points
FCSB - 58 points
Universitatea Craiova - 49 points
Astra Giurgiu - 47 points
Dinamo București - 45 points
The title race was knife-edge. Three points separated first and second with twelve matches remaining. Every game was a cup final.
But FCSB also had European football. The Round of 16 draw had paired them with Lazio—one of Serie A's giants, with a history stretching back over a century.
The Italian press loved the narrative: Inter Milan wanted Andrei, but first he had to face another Roman giant. Pressure mounted from all sides.
Training intensity increased. Reghecampf knew that juggling domestic and European competitions required squad rotation and smart management.
"We cannot win every match 100%," the coach told them. "Some games, we manage. Some games, we dominate. Intelligence is knowing which is which."
The next league match was away to FC Botoșani—mid-table opposition, a match FCSB should win. Reghecampf rested key players, including Andrei.
He watched from the bench as FCSB struggled. Without Budescu's creativity and the first-choice midfield, they looked labored. In the 67th minute, Reghecampf turned to him.
"Go warm up. We need something."
Andrei entered in the 72nd minute, replacing the ineffective winger Dennis Man. FCSB was drawing 0-0, frustration building.
Match situation:
Scoreline: 0-0
FCSB dominance: 68% possession, 0 goals
Need: Creative spark
Within three minutes, Andrei provided it. He received the ball on the left, cut inside past his marker, and played a disguised pass between two defenders to the overlapping Radunović.
The left-back's cross was met by substitute striker Raul Rusescu, who headed home.
1-0. Three points secured.
Assist recorded
Impact sub rating: 8.1/10
"This is why you're special," Tănase told him afterward. "You change games."
But the praise felt hollow. Andrei was exhausted, the relentless schedule taking its toll.
Physical Status:
Stamina: 67/99 (declining from overuse)
Injury risk: Moderate
Mental freshness: 71/99
The system was warning him again. But there was no time to rest—CFR Cluj was next, at home, a massive six-pointer.
Elena published a feature that week in Gazeta Sporturilor: "The Invisible Cost of Success: Young Romanian Players and Burnout."
The article didn't mention Andrei by name, but anyone paying attention could read between the lines. She cited research on player development, interviewed sports psychologists about the dangers of overtraining teenagers, and highlighted several cases of Romanian prospects who'd burned out young.
Her editor loved it. Her relationship with Andrei became slightly more complicated.
"You wrote about me," he said when they met for coffee.
"I wrote about a systemic problem in Romanian football," she corrected. "You just happen to be experiencing it."
"People will know."
"Good. Maybe it'll force FCSB to actually manage your minutes properly." Her expression softened. "I'm worried about you, Andrei. You look exhausted. You're losing weight."
"I'm fine."
"You're not fine. You're burning out, and everyone can see it except you."
They argued—one of their first real fights. Elena accused him of being stubborn; Andrei accused her of overstepping as a journalist. Both said things they didn't quite mean.
They made up later that night, apologizing, holding each other in the darkness of her apartment.
"I'm scared," Andrei admitted. "That if I rest, if I show weakness, they'll replace me and this all goes away. The Inter interest, the recognition, everything."
"And I'm scared," Elena replied, "that you'll destroy yourself chasing something that should be joyful. Football is supposed to make you happy, Andrei. Does it still?"
The question hung in the air, unanswered.
FCSB vs CFR Cluj - Liga 1
Stadionul Național, Bucharest
March 12th, 2017
The stadium was packed—35,000 fans for the title showdown. Win, and FCSB would go top. Lose, and the gap might become insurmountable.
FCSB Starting XI (4-2-3-1):
GK: Andrei Vlad
DEF (RB): Romario Benzar
CB: Marko Momčilović
CB: Ionuț Panțîru
DEF (LB): Risto Radunović
CDM: Mihai Pintilii (C)
CDM: Filipe Teixeira
RW: Florinel Coman
CAM: Constantin Budescu
LW/CAM: Andrei Luca
ST: Denis Alibec
CFR Cluj Starting XI (4-3-3):
GK: Giedrius Arlauskis
DEF (RB): Paulo Vinícius
CB: Mike Cestor
CB: Matías Aguirregaray
DEF (LB): Camora
CDM: Jakub Vojtus
CM: Panagiotis Tachtsidis (captain)
CM: Catalin Golofca
RW: Billel Omrani
ST: George Țucudean
LW: Gabriel Debeljuh
Cluj was experienced, organized, and confident. They'd been top for months and weren't going to relinquish it easily.
The match started at brutal intensity. Both teams knew what was at stake. Cluj's Greek midfielder Tachtsidis controlled the tempo, while their Romanian striker Țucudean pressed FCSB's center-backs relentlessly.
In the 23rd minute, Cluj struck. A quick counter-attack caught FCSB disorganized. Gabriel Debeljuh, the Argentine winger, cut inside and curled a shot past Vlad.
0-1 Cluj.
The stadium went quiet. Andrei felt panic flutter in his chest.
Composure check: Under extreme pressure
Current rating: 60.4/99
Team morale: Declining
"Stay calm!" Pintilii roared. "We have time!"
But time was the enemy. FCSB pushed forward desperately, but Cluj defended with discipline. The Lithuanian goalkeeper Arlauskis commanded his area confidently, collecting every cross.
Halftime: 0-1. The dressing room was tense.
"We're trying too hard," Reghecampf said. "Playing too direct. We need to move them, create space. Budescu, drop deeper. Andrei, when Budescu drops, you go forward. Constantin, when Andrei goes forward, you come inside from the right. Constant rotation—make them choose who to mark."
The second half began with renewed purpose. FCSB moved the ball faster, with more intelligence. In the 58th minute, the tactics paid off.
Budescu dropped deep, dragging Cluj's defensive midfielder with him. That created space in the hole—exactly where Andrei moved into. Teixeira spotted the run and played the ball between Cluj's center-backs.
Andrei controlled it on his thigh, Cestor closing fast. He didn't have time to set himself, didn't have the angle for a normal shot. But he had his right foot and desperation.
He struck it first-time, off-balance, hoping more than knowing.
The ball flew past Arlauskis' outstretched hand and into the top corner.
GOAL. 1-1.
Andrei didn't remember the celebration. Suddenly he was buried under teammates, oxygen gone, the crowd's roar vibrating through his bones.
Goal scored
Shooting: +0.2 (technical execution under pressure)
Composure: +0.3 (performed in crucial title match)
Overall Rating: 70.8 → 71.5
The match became end-to-end chaos. Both teams pushed for the winner, knowing a draw helped neither. In the 76th minute, disaster nearly struck—Țucudean broke clear, one-on-one with Vlad. The goalkeeper saved brilliantly, keeping it level.
In the 83rd minute, FCSB had a corner. Everyone pushed forward, including Pintilii from deep. The delivery was perfect, met by Momčilović's powerful header.
Arlauskis saved, but the rebound fell to Florinel Coman, six yards out, goal gaping.
He struck it over the bar.
The crowd groaned in agony. Coman collapsed to his knees, head in hands.
Final whistle: 1-1.
A draw. One point gained, but two dropped. Cluj remained top on goal difference.
Updated Liga 1 Standings:
CFR Cluj - 62 points (+18 goal difference)
FCSB - 59 points (+15 goal difference)
Universitatea Craiova - 50 points
Astra Giurgiu - 48 points
In the dressing room, the mood was somber despite the comeback. Reghecampf tried to lift spirits.
"We showed character. We didn't lose. The title race continues."
But everyone knew it was a missed opportunity.
Andrei sat in his locker, completely spent. His legs cramped, his vision blurred from exhaustion. The system flashed warnings:
Critical fatigue levels
Physical capacity: 43%
Injury risk: HIGH
Mandatory rest recommended
He ignored it. Lazio was in five days. There was no time for rest.
That night, Elena found him at his apartment, barely able to move from the couch.
"You need to see a doctor," she said, genuinely worried.
"I'm just tired."
"You're beyond tired. You're running on empty." She sat beside him. "Andrei, please. Talk to the medical staff. Tell them you need a break."
"I can't. Not before Lazio."
"Why? Why is this one match worth destroying yourself?"
"Because it's Lazio!" His voice cracked with emotion. "Because Inter Milan is watching. Because if I miss this match, if I show weakness, maybe they change their mind. Maybe this whole dream disappears."
Elena took his hands. "And if you break down completely? If you tear something or collapse or—God forbid—do permanent damage? What then?"
Andrei had no answer.
"Promise me," Elena said quietly, "that after Lazio, you'll rest. Properly rest. Even if it means missing league matches."
"I promise."
She held him that night, both of them silent, both aware that the beautiful game was extracting a price neither had anticipated.
Relationship Status: Strained but strong
Mental state: Fragile
Physical state: Critical
Next challenge: SS Lazio (First Leg)
Everything is at stake