LIVE Dinamo – CFR Cluj opens the last stage of the tour

The last appearance of the “dogs” at the National Arena was not at all pleasant: a 0-2 defeat in the derby with Rapid, although the Giulio team sent only one shot on goal. Since then, Zeljko Kopic's team ticked off a dull draw with FC Argeș, 1-1, but also a breath of fresh air in the Romanian Cup, a 3-1 victory over the “brothers” from CS Dinamo.

On the other hand, the “railway workers” are preparing for a major change. After the duel in the Capital, Daniel Pancu, the former U21 national team coach, will take over the reins of the team. Tonight, the interim is provided by the tandem of Laurentiu Rus – Ovidiu Hoban. CFR is going through the darkest period in recent years: 13th place, 13 points in 14 stages. After two consecutive failures in the championship, 0-1 with Petrolul and 0-2 with Farul, he won in the Romanian Cup, 4-0 decisively with CSM Slatina.

UPDATE 18:30. The first information from the National Arena

Almost deserted at the National Arena, two hours before the start of the duel between Dinamo and CFR Cluj. The last two results of the championship did not go down well with the demanding Dynamo fans, who, according to GSP.ro, bought a maximum of 7,500 – 8,000 tickets for tonight's duel.

Live, from 20:30 » Dinamo – CFR Cluj

Dinamo – CFR Cluj, probable teams:

Dinamo (4-3-3): Epassy – Ikoko, Boateng, Stoinov, Opruț – Kyriakou, Gnahore, Cîrjan – Armstrong, Karamoko, Musi
reserves: Roșca – Tabuncic, Toader, Bordușanu, Caragea, Bărbulescu, Mărginean, Pop, Perica, Milanov, Soro
Coach: Zeljko Kopic

CFR Cluj (4-3-3): Hindrich – Abeid, Sinyan, M. Ilie, Camora – Fică, K. Keita, Emerllahu – Korenica, L. Munteanu, Biliboc
reserves: Vâlceanu – Muhar, Cordea, Cernigoi, Kresic, Zouma, Kun, Slimani, Păun, Djokovic, Perianu, Şfaiț
Coach: Laurentiu Rus

Referee: Radu Petrescu
ASSISTANT: Mihai Marica and Ionuț Neacșu
VAR referee: Sebastian Colțescu
Assistant VAR: Claudio Marcu
Book: Viorel Flueran
Observer: Augustus Constantine

UPDATE 13:20 | Formerly at Dinamo and CFR Cluj, Lucian Goian prefaced today's derby: “Pancu can't do miracles in two days”

Lucian Goian, 42 years old, former stopper for both Dinamo and CFR Cluj, accepted Gazeta's proposal to analyze the main key points of tonight's match:

“I have a lot of faith in the arrival of Daniel Pancu. I have never worked with him, but from what I have heard and thinking about how he sees football, I trust him. I hope that the team will recover, because it has value, even if there are certain problems, which I saw that Mandorlini also pointed out.

It won't be easy, and Daniel Pancu certainly knows what he's up to. But I trust him, I like the way he thinks, I think he's very mature.

It's his first major challenge and, with a bit of luck, his career can go on an upward trajectory from here.

Lucian Goian is linked to both Dinamo and CFR Cluj / Photomontage Diana Vasilescu (GSP)

(…) I think that Dinamo is on a good path, comparing us to what it has been in recent years. There is still some work to be done before the moment when they fight with a real chance at the title, but I believe and wish that moment is not far away.

I think tonight will be a nice match, because Dinamo is playing at home and we all know the atmosphere that Dynamo fans create. CFR is coming after a change, but Daniel Pancu will not come now to do miracles in two days. He can work on the morale of the players, because value exists”, Lucian Goian said, exclusively for Gazeta Sporturilor.

CFR is a quality team, but suffers in terms of results. I'm sure they will try to win to get closer to the play-off zone. We recovered after the Cup match, we are in good shape, in front of the supporters we want to win the three points.

Our objective is to be in the play-offs, we are here. Maybe we should have had a few more points. In some matches I didn't have the best reaction in some moments of the game. We are in the goal, we have to continue to play our game, fight to get as many points as possible.

– Zeljko Kopic, Dinamo coach

The most important information, provided by GSP statistician Liviu Manolache:

• October 19, 2025, Dinamo-Rapid 0-2 was the only defeat suffered by the red-whites in the last 11 stagesotherwise six successes and four draws.

• Cluj are without a win this season on the opposing fieldwith four tied results and two lost games being recorded in their right.

• Dinamo is the team in the current championship with the highest average possession – 58.9%. On the other side, CFR is the team that sent the most shots on the opposing goal area – 88.

• 24 players used the Bucharest team in the first 14 stages, a figure we can only find next to those from FC Hermannstadt.

• The Transylvanian group was based on 36 footballers, the most of all the competitors.

• Dinamo and CFR Cluj have met in the main domestic competition 60 times, 20 times the Bucharest team prevailed, 28 times the Cluj team won, and 12 other games ended in a draw.

  Records with host Dinamo: 30 games – 13 Dinamo successes – 6 draws – 11 CFR Cluj victories.

• The first game took place on November 28, 1948, Dinamo-CFR 1-0, goal Marin Apostol. The coaches of the two teams were Rudolf Wetzer and Nicolae Munteanu, respectively.

• The most goals were scored in the second leg of the 1948/1949 edition, with CFR the host, score 2-5 (Candrea “double” / Bartha “double”, Ozon “double”, Naciu). The Transylvanian team's failure was followed by a 0-9 against Metalochimic Bucuresti, as a result of which the team from Vichy took the “B” route.

• The first victory for the Transylvanian team was recorded in the fourth direct duel, on July 15, 1970, CFR-Dinamo 2-1. The success contributed decisively to the rescue from relegation, the “ceferists” finishing the championship with one point over Crişul Oradea, the first team below the line.

• The biggest score difference: October 15, 2005, Dinamo-CFR 5-0. It is interesting that Dorinel Munteanu then used a starting formula consisting only of local players, the only foreigners used by Cluj entering after the break, Bruncevic and Zoran Milosevic. Ioan Andone was on the hosts' bench.

• Another landmark match was played on November 5, 2006, CFR Cluj-Dinamo 2-1 (“double” Romeo Surdu / Radu Ştefan), when the Cluj players stopped a series of 13 consecutive victories achieved by the team coached at the time by Mircea Rednic.

• The last success ticked off by the people of Bucharest on the first stage dates back to May 6, 2017, CFR Cluj-Dinamo 0-3. 16 games followed, 12 Cluj victories and four draws.

• The most recent direct Superliga match: April 28, 2025, Dinamo-CFR Cluj 1-1 (A. Mărginean / Al. Pop – own goal).

How the Superliga standings look like: