Romania vs Armenia prediction, preview, team news and more | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Romania host Armenia at the Stadionul Steaua in Bucharest on Monday in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Tricolors are looking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Germany earlier in the week, having led the match from the 10-minute mark.
Second-half goals from Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller, who scored the winner in the 81st-minute, condemned Mirel Radoi's side to a third defeat of the qualification campaign.
With 10 points in seven games, Romania are now fourth in Group J, but could leapfrog Armenia should they beat the visitors.
The Havak'akan started their campaign with three wins on the trot, but failed to secure victory in any of their next four, including a draw with Iceland on Friday.
Joaquin Caparros' side will be eager to return to winning ways with only three games remaining in this qualifying round.
Romania vs Armenia Head-To-Head
Romania have won four of their previous six clashes, losing just once.
That defeat came in the first leg of these qualifiers as the Tricolors went down 3-2 in Armenia.
🇩🇪 Germany 2-1 Romania 🇷🇴
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 0-4 North Macedonia 🇲🇰
🇮🇸 Iceland 1-1 Armenia 🇦🇲
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The four-time world champions come from behind and maintain their lead in #WCQ Group J https://t.co/EC28wOv6zv
Romania Form Guide (all competitions): L-W-W-D-L
Armenia Form Guide (all competitions): L-D-L-D-D
Romania vs Armenia Team News
Romania
The Tricolors will have Dragos Nedelcu back from suspension after the midfielder sat out their clash with Germany on Friday.
He may come back into the starting XI, with either Razvan Marin or Nicolae Stanciu dropping to the bench.
George Puscas is likely to lead the line as centre-forward. He hasn't scored for Romania since November 2020, and will be desperate to end that goalscoring drought.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Unavailable: None
Germany 🇩🇪 2-1 Romania 🇷🇴
Painful ending to a beautiful start, good opportunities through Hagi & even Stanciu diagonal shot, but Puscas very wasteful with one on one awful attempt and not passing for clearer opportunities twice.. Ratiu & Chiriches close in end too
#GERROU #WCQ https://t.co/PLBVCSM0FV
Armenia
Lucas Zelarayan made his debut for Armenia after winning eligibility, and marked the occasion with a sensational assist for Hovhannisyan.
Head coach Joaquin Caparros may reward him with another start on Monday.
Khoren Bayramyan came off the bench against Iceland and is gunning for a start here.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Unavailable: None
Romania vs Armenia Predicted XI
Romania (4-2-3-1): Florin Nita; Andrei Ratiu, Vlad Chiriches, Ionut Nedelcearu, Nicusor Bancu; Nicolae Stanciu, Dragos Nedelcu; Ianis Hagi, Alexandru Cicaldau, Alexandru Maxim; George Puskas.
Armenia (4-4-2): David Yurchenko; Kamo Hovhannisyan, Taro Voskanyan, Varazdat Haroyan, Davit Terteryan; Khoren Bayramyan, Lucas Zelarayan, Artak Grigoryan, Sargis Adamyan; Tigran Barseghyan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Romania vs Armenia Prediction
Both teams have a strong defensive unit, and we do not expect more than a couple of goals in this game.
Romania made Germany work hard for their victory while Armenia shared the spoils with Iceland.
However, with both teams desperate to secure a victory, they may well cancel each other out.
Prediction: Romania 1-1 Armenia