Politehnica Timisoara vs CSM Resita Prediction & Betting Tips (9 November)

One of the most intriguing fixtures of Liga 2 round 13 takes place on Monday, 9 November 2026, at 14:30, when newly promoted Politehnica Timișoara host CSM Reșița at the Stadionul Electrica in Timișoara. This season Poli have been the surprise package of the 2026/2027 campaign, remaining the only unbeaten team in the division deep into the autumn, while Dorinel Munteanu's Reșița have quietly assembled a promotion-challenging squad after a summer rebuild. With both sides harbouring SuperLiga ambitions, this Banat derby carries far more weight than a typical mid-table November clash, and the home crowd is expected to pack the Electrica once again after the club sold out the ground for its return to the second tier.

Politehnica Timișoara's fairytale start to life back in Liga 2 began on opening day, when Dan Alexa's men edged Chindia Târgoviște 1-0 thanks to Andras Huszti's spectacular strike, a result that set the tone for an unbeaten run built on defensive solidity. Alexa reshaped the squad for 2026/2027 with experienced heads such as captain Andrei Artean, Romario Benzar and goalkeeper Micu, blended with summer arrivals including Ștefan Drăghici, Ovidiu Popescu, Aurelian Chițu, Ianis Doană and Portuguese centre-back Pedro Paul. Perhaps the most telling signing is Mihai Dolghi, poached directly from Reșița, where he spent three years — he and former Valea Domanului teammate Robert Burlacu-Luca give Poli valuable insider knowledge of Friday's... Monday's opponents.

CSM Reșița answered a slow start to the season with a statement away performance in round 8, winning at CSC Dumbrăvița 0-2 through a Stefan Visic brace, and followed it up by stunning then-leaders CSM Slatina and beating Gloria Bistrița 1-0 at the start of November to climb back toward the podium. Munteanu's rebuilt 2026/2027 roster mixes captain Alin Dudea's leadership with a cosmopolitan influx: Serbian striker Stefan Savija, Slovenian playmaker Matic Zavnik, Nigerian midfielder Lawal Sulaimon, plus domestic arrivals Cristi Bărbuț, Edmond Lenghel, Erwin Bloj, Cristian Chira and Iustin Popescu. Visic's penalty-driven double at Dumbrăvitta 0-2 underlined how dangerous Reșița are on the break, and they will fancy causing the hosts problems despite Poli's unbeaten record.

The European odds market prices Politehnica Timișoara as clear favourites at around 1.75, with the draw at 3.50 and a CSM Reșița away win offered near 4.33 — a reflection of Poli's remarkable defensive record and home fortress, but arguably generous given Reșița's pedigree and Munteanu's tournament-hardened squad. We expect an open, high-tempo derby in which Poli's organised back line, marshalled by Pedro Paul and Huszti, finally concedes for the first time in weeks against Savija's physical presence, while Artean and Chițu exploit the visitors' transitional gaps at the other end. Our prediction for this Liga 2 clash is a 2:1 home win for Politehnica Timișoara — both teams to score, and the unbeaten run extended to thirteen rou