CSA Steaua Bucureşti vs Tunari

Date: 15 July 2026 | Competition: Club Friendly | Venue: Complexul Sportiv Steaua, Teren 5, Bucharest

Steaua needed just six minutes to open the scoring. A cross from the right was headed goalwards but parried by Tunari goalkeeper Chivulescu, and Pedro Caldieraro — the Brazilian midfielder signed this summer — was quickest to react, poking home from close range with his left foot.

The second arrived in the 27th minute. David Barbu, the 20-year-old midfielder, collected the ball on the left edge of the box and finished with his right foot across Chivulescu into the far corner, doubling the lead with a composed strike.

Steaua dominated possession throughout the first half, with Tunari struggling to mount sustained attacks. The visitors' best spell came after the break, but they rarely threatened Ianis Pletea's goal.

The third and final goal came in the 78th minute. Substitute Alexandru Nofitovici delivered a low pass across the six-yard box, and Luca Albu — who had come on in the second half — slid in to tap home from close range, rounding off the scoring.

Caldieraro's sixth-minute opener. The early goal settled Steaua immediately and forced Tunari, playing their first pre-season friendly, onto the back foot. Steaua's manager Daniel Oprița had spoken pre-match about building confidence after a mixed run of results, and the quick start allowed his side to control proceedings without pressure. Tunari never recovered the foothold.

• Pedro Caldieraro — The Brazilian midfielder scored his second goal of pre-season (he also netted in the 4-5 loss to CS Afumați). Sharp movement in the box and a poacher's instinct for the opener. Player of the Match.

• David Barbu — The 20-year-old showed composure beyond his years for the second goal, curling a right-footed finish from an acute angle. Growing influence in Oprița's midfield setup.

• Luca Albu — Came off the bench to score the third with a simple tap-in, but his positioning and movement off the ball created the chance. Also involved in build-up play during the second half.

• Ianis Pletea — Steaua's goalkeeper was rarely tested but commanded his area well, dealing comfortably with crosses and set pieces.

Steaua have now won four of five meetings against Tunari since 2020, scoring eight goals across those fixtures and conceding just three. The 3-0 scoreline matches the pattern of Steaua's dominance in this fixture — only one of the five H2H meetings has ended in a draw.

Both teams scored in 60% of the previous meetings, but Tunari failed to register a single effort on target here, a reflection of the gulf in pre-season preparation (Steaua's fourth friendly vs Tunari's first).

Steaua's 2-0 half-time lead continued a trend: in their previous four friendlies, they had scored at least once in the first half of every match.

Steaua's pre-season record now stands at two wins, one draw and one defeat from four outings, with goal difference at +1 (11 scored, 10 conceded). Oprița's side continue preparations for the Liga 2 season, expected to start around 1 August, with the objective of breaking into the top six.

Tunari, who have dropped to Liga 3 after relegation last season, were playing their first pre-season test under manager Călin Cojocaru. The Ilfov-based side will use the result as a benchmark for the level required in the division below.

Up next for Steaua: SCM Râmnicu Vâlcea (18 July), CSM Slatina (25 July).

A routine, no-drama friendly win for Steaua against a side two divisions below them. The early goal from Caldieraro set the tone, Barbu's finish showed quality, and the clean sheet — the first of pre-season — will please Oprița. The real tests come against fellow Liga 2 sides in the next fortnight, but the building blocks are there.

Player of the Match: Pedro Caldieraro
Key Moment: Caldieraro's 6th-minute opener
Attendance: Not published
Referee: Cristian Dobrin (assisted by Ștefan Obrejea and Robert Gheorghe)