Back
Steffen Schmidt - July 12, 2023
Otelul Galati vs UTA Arad
Romanian Liga I
Date: 14 July 2023, Friday
Kick-off at 16:30 UK / 17:30 CET
Venue: Stadionul Otelul (Galati).
Otelul Galati and UTA Arad will have the honor to raise the curtain on the 2023/24 season in Romanian top flight on Friday afternoon when they take on each other at Stadionul Otelul.
The team from Galati returned to the elite class for the first time since 2015 as they came third in the last year’s Liga II campaign.
They enter the new season with limited funds and modest ambitions with an attempt to somehow find a way to secure survival among elite.
Otelul had two quality checks in the final two preseason games, drawing against the likes of Maribor and Vojvodina, well established clubs from Slovenia and Serbia.
The opening game of the season leaves space for the hosts to get a result in front of their fans as they will face UTA Arad who barely avoided relegation last year.
UTA were forced to play the relegation playoffs against Gloria Buzau in late May this year. After a goalless draw in the first leg of the road, Arad advanced thanks to a comprehensive 5-1 victory on the home turf.
The visitors did not have as strong exhibitions as their Friday counterparts this summer as they managed wins over lower-division local sides Corvinul Hundenoara and CSM Resita.
UTA’s away games have frequently produced goals last season as we have seen goals at both ends in five of the last seven matches on the road in the league.
Otelul had a great home record last season in the second class of Romanian football. They are labeled as underdogs in the opening game of their top-flight campaign but we believe they should have what it takes to at least stay unbeaten on Friday considering the limited quality in their rivals’ squad.
The home win or draw double chance is our main betting option at the 1.57 odds while we also see the value in backing the Over 2.5 goals FT bet at the attractive 2.40 odds knowing how attacking-minded UTA Arad have been on travels last year.
