2018–19 Liga I


The 2018–19 Liga I was the 101st season of the Liga I, the top professional league for Romanian association football clubs. The season began on 20 July 2018 and ended on 2 June 2019, being the fourth to take place since the play-off/play-out rule has been introduced.
Dunărea Călărași and Hermannstadt joined as the promoted clubs from the 2017–18 Liga II. CFR Cluj managed to defend the title for the first time in their history, while FCSB became the first team in the country to finish as runner-ups for four consecutive seasons in a row.

Teams

The league consists of 14 teams: twelve teams from the 2017–18 Liga I and two new teams from the 2017–18 Liga II.
Teams promoted to the Liga I
The first club to be promoted was Dunărea Călărași, following their 3–1 win against Ripensia Timișoara on 5 May 2018. Dunărea will play in the Liga I for the first time in their history.
The second club to be promoted was Hermannstadt, following their 1–1 draw against Chindia Târgoviște on 13 May 2018. Hermannstadt will play in the Liga I for the first time in their history, but the city of Sibiu, which had many different teams over time, returned in the Liga I after six years of absence, where was last time represented by Voința Sibiu.
Teams relegated to the Liga II
The first club to be relegated was Juventus București, which were relegated on 22 May 2018 following a 1–3 defeat against Concordia Chiajna, ending their 1-year stay in the top flight.
The second club to be relegated was Poli Timișoara, which were relegated on 2 June 2018 following their 1–0 win against Concordia Chiajna, ending their 3-year stay in the top flight.

Venues


Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
Astra Giurgiu Filip Mrzljak Joma—
Botoșani Andrei Burcă ErreàCasa Pariurilor
CFR Cluj Mário Camora JomaNTT Data
Concordia Chiajna Marian Cristescu Lotto—
Dinamo București Dan Nistor MacronOrange
Dunărea Călărași Alin Dobrosavlevici AcerbisFortuna
FCSB Mihai Pintilii Nike:ro:City Insurance|City Insurance
Gaz Metan Mediaș Marius Constantin JomaRomgaz
Hermannstadt Răzvan Dâlbea AnduPrimăria Sibiu
Politehnica Iași Cosmin Frăsinescu JomaSuperbet
Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe Attila Hadnagy AdidasDiószegi, Gyermelyi
Universitatea Craiova Nicușor Bancu JomaBetano.com
Viitorul Constanța Ianis Hagi Nike—
Voluntari Cosmin Vâtcă MacronWinner

Managerial changes

Regular season

In the regular season the 14 teams will meet twice, a total of 26 matches per team, with the top 6 advancing to the Championship round and the bottom 8 qualifying for Relegation round.

Table

Results

Positions by round

Championship play-offs

The top six teams from Regular season will meet twice for places in 2019–20 UEFA Champions League and 2019–20 UEFA Europa League as well as deciding the league champion. Teams start the Championship round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season.

Table

Results

Positions by round

Relegation play-outs

The bottom eight teams from regular season met twice to contest against relegation. Teams started the Relegation round with their points from the Regular season halved, rounded upwards, and no other records carried over from the Regular season. The winner of the Relegation round finished 7th in the overall season standings, the second placed team – 8th, and so on, with the last placed team in the Relegation round being 14th.

Table

Results

Positions by round

Promotion/relegation play-offs

The 12th-placed team of the Liga I faced the 3rd-placed team of the Liga II.

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 George ȚucudeanCFR Cluj18
2 Harlem GnohéréFCSB15
3 Mattia MontiniDinamo București13
3 Elvir KoljićUniversitatea Craiova13
3 Alexandru Mitriță1Universitatea Craiova13
6 Florinel ComanFCSB11
6 Ibrahima TandiaSepsi Sfântu Gheorghe11
8 Florin TănaseFCSB10
8 Mario RondónGaz Metan Mediaș10
8 Ianis HagiViitorul Constanța10
8 Alexandru TudorieVoluntari10
12 Mihai Roman IIBotoșani9
12 Dennis ManFCSB9

1 Alexandru Mitriță was transferred to New York City during the winter transfer window.

Hat-tricks

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Giedrius ArlauskisCFR Cluj18
2 Mirko PigliacelliUniversitatea Craiova16
3 Răzvan PleșcaGaz Metan Mediaș13
4 Cristian BălgrădeanFCSB12
5 Cătălin StratonDunărea Călărași11
6 Cătălin CăbuzHermannstadt10
7 Roland NiczulySepsi Sfântu Gheorghe9
8 Eduard PapBotoșani8
8 Martin FraislBotoșani8
8 Parfait MandandaDinamo Bucuresti8
11 Valentin CojocaruViitorul Constanța7
12 Denis RusuPolitehnica Iași6
12 Cosmin VâtcăVoluntari6

Discipline

Player

Awards

Liga I Team of the Regular Season

PlayerTeamPosition
Mirko PigliacelliUniversitatea CraiovaGoalkeeper
Romario BenzarFCSBDefender
Paulo ViníciusCFR ClujDefender
Mike CestorAstra GiurgiuDefender
CamoraCFR ClujDefender
Ibrahima TandiaSepsi Sfântu GheorgheMidfielder
Alexandru CicâldăuUniversitatea CraiovaMidfielder
Florin TănaseFCSBMidfielder
Ianis HagiViitorulForward
George ȚucudeanCFR ClujForward
Alexandru MitrițăUniversitatea CraiovaForward

Liga I Team of the Championship Play-offs

PlayerTeamPosition
Giedrius ArlauskisCFR ClujGoalkeeper
Romario BenzarFCSBDefender
Paulo ViníciusCFR ClujDefender
Iulian CristeaFCSBDefender
CamoraCFR ClujDefender
Damjan DjokovićCFR ClujMidfielder
Alexandru CicâldăuUniversitatea CraiovaMidfielder
Dennis ManFCSBMidfielder
Ianis HagiViitorulMidfielder
Florinel ComanFCSBForward
Harlem GnohéréFCSBForward

Liga I Team of the Season

PlayerTeamPosition
Mirko PigliacelliUniversitatea CraiovaGoalkeeper
Romario BenzarFCSBDefender
Paulo ViníciusCFR ClujDefender
CamoraCFR ClujDefender
Dennis ManFCSBMidfielder
Dan NistorDinamo BucureștiMidfielder
Alexandru CicâldăuUniversitatea CraiovaMidfielder
Florinel ComanFCSBMidfielder
Ianis HagiViitorulForward
George ȚucudeanCFR ClujForward
Harlem GnohéréFCSBForward