First Division had familiar around Europe finality: 2 outsiders, a bulk of 11 fairly equal teams, largely concerned with escaping relegation during the year, 2 solid teams, which were not strong enough to tackle the title race, and three favourites. FC Constanta was last with 20 points – usually, the club is known as Farul, so the new name was confusing a bit.
Politehnica (Timisoara) was a big disappointment – they had good strong seasons recently, looking like finally stabilized and going to play more significant role in the championship. But suddenly they dropped down and finished 17th with measly 24 points.
The third relegated team was also a bit of a surprise – unlike FC Constanta and Politehnica, they fought for survival, but failed, finishing 16th with 29 points. What was unpleasant surprise was that – FCM Brasov normally was a solid mid-table club. Presently, they had interesting squad, which included sometime national team goalkeeper Dumitru Stingaciu and bright young winger, soon to become world-famous – Marius Lakatus. And such a squad was going to second division, when typical candidates for relegation like Chimia (Ramnigu Vilcea), Politehnica (Iasi), and CS Targoviste (Targoviste) survived.
Not only that, but Politehnica (Iasi) enjoyed may be their best season – they finished 10th. Yes, 32 points was only 3 points more than what relegated FCM Brasov had they got 10th place only because of better goal-difference, but as a rule of thumb Politehnica played rarely in the top league and when they did, they hardly lasted longer than a season.
Petrolul (Ploesti) performed as usual, as most of the league members – nothing extraordinary: 12th with 32 points.
And so it went up to 5th place – Corvinul (Hunedoara) topped the bulk with 34 points, taking 6th place. For them, a club similar to Politehnica (Iasi) that was the strongest and most successful period. Rubbing shoulders with the best – kind of. Kind of, for they just bellow mighty Steaua, but still 4 points behind.
Steaua (Bucharest) was lowly 5th with 38 points, entirely out of the championship race. Understandably so – it was shaky period of changing generations and rebuilding was not finished yet. There were still remains of the old guard – Sames, Iordache, Anghelini – and the new blood was only too young – Belodedici, for instance. Team in transition, hence the results.
Arges (Pitesti) still preserved their leading position established during the 1970s – they finished 4th with 40 points. But it was clear they were slipping down – no longer title contenders and the squad was hardly promising.
Sportul Studentesc (Bucharest) was running strong – this year they were title contenders, but finished 3rd with 44 points. Perhaps the squad was less interesting than their kit – hardly a team compatible to Steaus, Universitatea, and Dinamo, but combative more than enough. As for the kit – depends on individual taste: for some an interesting and rare black-and-white hoops, for others – prison garb.
Universitatea (Craiova), the strongest and most consistent of the provincial clubs, continued to challenge the clubs of Bucharest: they won most games this season – 20. Also scored most goals – 66. Alas, it was not enough and they ended 2nd with 46 points. Three short of a title. Perhaps their international duties were too much… perhaps the team was not deep enough. Perhaps they were too adventurous and, risking, lost too many games – 8. But it was not bad finish – they remained very strong.
Familiar champion, then. Dinamo (Bucharest) repeated their success of the previous year – surely, they were the leading Romanian club in the early 1980s. Seemingly, able to avoid a crisis of generational change – Moraru and Andone were aging, but younger talent was painlessly blended – Rednic. Dinamo also played well in Europe, so, unlike Universitatea, fighting on two fronts was not affecting their form. 11th title.