SC Oțelul Galați come into this one without a win in five league matches and with five straight games in which they have failed to keep a clean sheet. Their recent home return has also been shaky, including a 2-3 defeat against FK Csíkszereda Miercurea Ciuc and a 0-2 loss to FC Hermannstadt, which underlines how difficult it has been for them to control this matchup.
FC Hermannstadt arrive in better shape, with three wins in their last four league outings and plenty of attacking output in that stretch. They beat FC Botoșani 3-0 in their latest match and also scored three away at UTA Arad, while the earlier 2-0 win over Oțelul in Galați is another useful marker for this fixture.
The head-to-head record also leans toward the visitors avoiding defeat, as Hermannstadt have won three of the last four meetings and are unbeaten in those four. Oțelul’s inability to keep opponents out is a concern here, especially since they have gone five matches without a clean sheet and have conceded first in five straight games.
There is a reasonable scoring case for both sides, which is why the 1-1 correct score projection is not out of place, but the away side still look the more reliable option. Hermannstadt have scored in four of their last five league games, and Oțelul’s recent results have often left them chasing the game rather than protecting a lead.
My prediction is Double Chance X2 at 1/2. Hermannstadt have avoided defeat in three of the last four head-to-head meetings, Oțelul are winless in five league matches, and the hosts have gone five games without a clean sheet. The recent away win for Hermannstadt in Galați also supports the visitors not losing this one, even if a draw remains a live possibility.
