Oltul Curtişoara vs Slatina - Cupa României

The Cupa României returns to the home ground on August 12, 2026, where Oltul Curtişoara and Slatina will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. It has not been a daunting fixture list but there are signs that Mourinho has found a way to get the best from an increasingly stacked Madrid squad.

Both camps will view the Cupa României meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. The hosts will hope that the the home ground crowd can inspire a performance, whatever the numbers suggest. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. The Ghana winger, signed on loan from Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise on transfer deadline day, drilled in an angled shot on the run, via the inside of the far post, for his first Derby goal.

Tactically, the contest promises a fascinating contrast. Oltul Curtişoara will look to impose their style on home soil, while Slatina are likely to have ideas of their own about how to gain the upper hand. That radar allows City to retain control, momentum and possession in games, pinning opponents back in the tempered style Guardiola favoured.

Individual quality could tip the balance. The league's leading scorer Andrei Trandafir, with 2 goals to his name this season, is a reminder of the firepower on display. How each side deals with the other's danger men — and who takes their chances when they come — will be central to the outcome. He produced a sublime assist for Reijnders' goal and then played a huge part in Muamba's rebound finish as his shot after cutting inside was parried straight to the striker to tap home.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. With the sides so closely matched, a 1-1 stalemate looks the most likely way this one ends. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Cupa României standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. Manchester City will begin another Premier League season with major uncertainty hanging over the club after league chief executive Richard Masters admitted the long-awaited verdict on their financial case has taken longer than expected.