Betting on Liga I: What punters need to look at before betting on Romania’s top football league

Liga I, also known as the SuperLiga, is the highest level of the Romanian football league. Following that football is the most popular sport in the country, there is a lot of hype in the country when the season starts. With all this hype, the sports betting industry takes a keen chance to capitalize on whatever is going on.

Football betting in the country has become such a huge thing since its legalization in 2015. According to statistics, there are approximately 7 million active gamblers, with at least 1 million focusing on sports betting, especially football. So, during the SuperLiga season, you’ll most likely see hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of wagers being placed on betting sites in Romania to add to the thrill of the game.

However, you’ll realize that not all punters know what they are doing in the market. A good percentage of bettors think that it’s all about guessing the outcomes of games. However, if you are an experienced punter, you know that there is more to betting than just guessing what will happen in the next game. This article will be highlighting some of those things that are pretty much essential to punters before they can place one wager. 

Team form and recent performance

Whenever you are betting on the SuperLiga, it is vital that you evaluate at least the last five to ten games of a particular team. This will help you gauge the momentum of a team. If a team has lost five consecutive games, then there is a huge chance that it might lose the current game. For example, Hermannstadt’s 13-match unbeaten run in 2023/24 may offer safer betting options.

Also, apart from just winning or losing, you’d want to analyze their performance on the pitch. Did they dominate possession? Were they attacking or defending? Do they have balanced defence or are they vulnerable? Do they have any clean sheets? Ensure that you are looking into such details from reputable sources like ESPN, Supersport, BBC Sport to ensure that you are up to date with team dynamics and individual performances.

You should also be aware of newly promoted teams. For instance, teams like Unirea Slobozia and Gloria Buzău were promoted for the 2024/25 season. Gloria Buzău has been promoted to the top division after 15 years in the lower divisions. This means that it would take some time to adjust to the pressure that goes on in the top league. If such a team were to be battling with CFR Cluj which has won 5 league titles in a row, then their chances of losing would be quite high.

Head-to-head stats

The history between teams can help reveal a trend that has been persisting over time. As you analyze the head-to-head matches, you get to know which team has been performing better overall than the other. Take, for instance, a game between FCSB and Sepsi. The two teams have had 25 clashes, with FCSB winning 16 and Sepsi winning only 2. When you look at such stats, the highest chance will be that when the two teams meet, whether home or away, FCSB has a higher chance of winning.

However, as you are doing such comparisons, there are a couple of things that you should consider. For instance, was one of the teams missing key players? Where have most wins happened; were they home or away? Also, as a betting enthusiast, you should get to know whether the teams often meet in other competitions, whether playoffs or tounanament finals. By getting such information, you can make more informed decisions. 

Injuries and suspensions

As much as a team is good, there are players that make it better. Missing key players can be detrimental to a team and alter its capabilities. If a team is missing a key striker or playmaker, then they might have a harder time scoring. On the other hand, if a team’s top defender is missing, then the defense might be vulnerable. 

The SuperLiga releases official injury and suspension reports while sports news sites provide updates on player conditions. If you are a serious bettor, then it is important to keep up with these news and reports as they help you adjust your bets accordingly.

However, apart from just looking at the primary injuries, it is vital to look at the team’s substitutes. Some teams have great players that can easily substitute key players and leave no gap. Nonetheless, there are teams that suffer greatly when a key player is benched, leaving the team at a critical place in certain areas.

Home and away records

Home advantage is a well-documented phenomenon in football where teams tend to perform better due to things like crowd support and pitch familiarity. 

In SuperLiga home and away records (2024/25 season), teams like CS Universitatea Craiova, CFR Cluj and Universitatea Cluj are some of the best-performing teams when they are at home. The three teams have a home-game-win ratio of 60%. On the other hand, teams like AFC UTA Arad and FC Unirea 2004 Slobozia are some of the most poorly performing teams at home, with a 20% win ratio. Looking at away winning percentage, SC Fotbal Club FCSB SA has a 47% win percentage, making it the most successful team in away matches.

Looking at all these pointers, you relaize that apart from just luck, there are many more things taht you can look at before you bet on the SuperLiga. Doing proper research is the one thing that will distinguish a pro punter and just a regular one.