Live Rapid – CFR Cluj »The first match in Giulești for Costel Gâlcă

Costel Gâlcă's mandate on the bench of Rapid started with a victory in Mioveni, 2-0 with the newly promoted FC Argeș. The first match follows in Giulești against the vice -champion of Superligii, CFR Cluj.

Before the match with Rapid, CFR comes with a good morale. The Transylvanians defeated Paksi in Gruia, score 3-0, and qualified in the second preliminary round of the Europa League, where he will meet Lugano.

Rapid – CFR Cluj, live from 21:30

Probable teams at Rapid – CFR Cluj

Rapid: Aioani – Braun, Ciobotariu, Pașcanu, Borza – Christensen, Keita, Gramen – Dobre, Koljic, Petrila
Reserves: Stolz, Kramer, Onea, Manea, Bădescu, Hromada, Gojkovic, El Sawy, R. Pop, Hazrollaj, Micovschi, Jambor
Coach: Costel Gâlcă

CFR Cluj: Hindrich – Abeid, Bolgado, Ilie, Camora – Fica, Djokovic, Păun – Nkololo, Postolachi – Munteanu
Reserves: Micai, Sinyan, Gyorgy, Samake, Muhar, Deac, Bosec, Dumbrăvanu, Gligor, Ciubăncan, Gjorghievski
Absent: Emerllahu, Kamara, Simao Rocha (injured)
Coach: Dan Petrescu

Stadium: “Giulești Superbet Arena”
Referee: Kovacs Istvan (Satu Mare) // Assistants: Marica Mihai Marius (Bistriţa Năsăud), Marinescu Vasile (Bucharest) // Var Referee: Popa Cătălin (Argeş) // Assistant Assistant: Mark Claudiu (Constanta)

The most interesting information from Rapid – CFR Cluj

• April 6, 2025, Rapid-Dinamo 1-0 was the only successful victory in Giulesti in the last six matches played in the championship as a host, in the rest a draw and four defeats.

• The Transylvanians scored at least one goal in 15 of the previous 16 movements in Superliga.

• The two teams met in the main internal competition 50 times, 21 times the people of Bucharest won, 17 times the people of Cluj have prevailed, and another 12 matches ended in a draw. Palmares with fast host: 25 games – 15 Victories Rapid – 4 draws – 6 successes CFR Cluj.

• The first dispute took place on November 19, 1947, CFR Bucharest-Ferrar 5-1 (B. Marian, I. Lungu, Filotti, Comşa / Ferenczi 60)

• The Rapid administered to today's opponent the most severe defeat in the championship. It happened in March 1949, CFR Bucharest – CFR Cluj 12-2, the title of the Chronicles of “Popular Sport” being a suggestive one: “The figures at the table did not reach …”. At the same time, this result also meant the clearest victory in the history of Bucharest on the first stage. Four of the 12 successes wore the signature of Bazil Marian, and another three were succeeded by Zavoda I. At the end of the 1948/1949 season, Rapid finished on 2, while CFR took the road of the B, from where he would return in 1969.

• The most recent direct confrontation in Superliga: May 19, 2025, Rapid-CFR Cluj 1-4 (Alexandru Dobre / Adrian Păun, Virgiliu Postolachi, Ciprian Deac, Leo Bolgado).

• Dan Petrescu debuted as the main on the first stage at Rapid, 21 years ago, on March 12, 2004, in the victory ticked by Giulesti with FC Oradea, score 2-1.

Costel Gâlcă's statements before the match

The big teams, which play in the European cups, also have that additional, because they have achieved a qualification. I think the enthusiasm is very big in their lot and we have to be very careful to be able to make a very good, perfect and defense and attack. I think it will be very important for us to be efficient in front of the gate, to defend ourselves very well. All the matches are difficult. We have to prove to every match that we have made progress, that we are better and have the mentality to win the matches.

– Costel Gâlcă at the press conference

Dan Petrescu, statements before Rapid – CFR Cluj

I talked to the boys, I told them that Rapid is a team that wins trophies, but he has not won since 2007. Of course, they want a trophy, even this year. Because they have everything, money, employer, sports base … they have no sporting basis, but they have everything. So it is clear that I see them to fight the championship and the cup, of course. They also have the advantage that they do not play in Europe.

– Dan Petrescu at the press conference

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