Article by Sebastian Culea – Published Saturday, February 21, 2026, 4:16 p.m. / Updated Saturday, February 21, 2026, 4:17 p.m.
CFR Cluj and Petrolul face each other from 18:00 in a match that may have important implications in the fight for the play-offs. The duel in Gruia will be liveTEXT on GSP.ro and live on PrimaSport 1 and DigiSport 1.
CFR Cluj, the team of the moment in the Super League, wants to continue its good streak and get another victory, the ninth in a row, and consolidate its position among the top 6. Daniel Pancu's team is in 5th place, with 44 points, and hopes to achieve a new success, which would increase its chances in the play-offs.
On the other hand, Petrolul is one of the uncomfortable teams in the last rounds, being undefeated in the previous four rounds (two wins, two draws). Ploiești are 12th, with 28 points. And a win would strengthen their position in the ranking.
CFR Cluj – Petrolul, live from 18:00
CFR Cluj – Petrolul, the starting teams
CFR Cluj (4-3-3): M. Popa – Abeid, Sinyan, M. Ilie, Camora – Muhar, D. Djokovic, A. Păun – Biliboc, A. Aliev, Korenica
Reserves: O. Valceanu, Kun, Braun, Huja, Masic, Keita, Fica, Deac, Kamara, Şfaiț, Zahovic, Slimani
Absent: Cordea (suspended)
Coach: Daniel Pancu
The oil (3-4-3): Bălbarău – Roche, Papp, Prce – Ricardinho, Dulca, Jyry, Dumitrescu – Boțogan, Chică-Roșă, V. Gheorghe
Reserves: Krell – Rodrigues, Ignat, Soares, Mateiu, Boateng, Hanca, Dongmo, Grozav, Hermann, R. Pop, D. Paraschiv
Coach: Eugene Neagoe
Stadium: “Dr. Constantin Rădulescu” (Cluj-Napoca)
Referee: Marcel Bîrsan // Assistants: Ionut Neacșu, Nicușor Marin
VAR Referee: Iulian Calin // Assistant VAR: Vasile Marinescu
Superliga live standings
The best statistics before CFR Cluj – Petrolul
- The Transylvanians are going through a truly formidable period, one draw and eight wins in a row in the last nine rounds, as a result of which they finished the 27th stage in the play-off place.
- October 4, 2025, FC Argeș-Petrolul 0-1 was the only success achieved by Prahoven in the previous 11 trips in the Superliga, in the rest there were six draws and four defeats.
- 19 of the 43 goals scored by Cluj were scored with the left, the most of all competitors.
- Petrolul is the formation with the fewest shots sent into the opponent's goal area, only 78 (CFR Cluj – 159).
- CFR Cluj is the team with the most players used in the first 27 rounds – 41. On the other side, Petrol was based on 36 footballers, including the young Rareș Pop, who was in front of the match with number 100 on the first stage.
- The two teams have met in the main domestic competition 29 times, Cluj won 13 times, Prahoven won eight times, and eight other games ended in a draw.
- Records with CFR host: 14 games – 8 victories CFR Cluj – 4 draws – 2 successes Petrolul.
- The first match took place in the 1969/70 edition, in Cluj, on November 2, 1969, CFR-Petrolul 2-1 (scorers Marian Popescu, Vasile Soo / Dragu Bădin; coaches Constantin Rădulescu, respectively Constantin Cernăianu).
- June 6, 1971, Petrolul-CFR 2-1, the first success on the account of the Prahovens in the disputes with the railwaymen. Mircea Dridea scored the second goal for Ploieşte, the first being scored by Dragu Bădin. The people of Cluj reduced their handicap two minutes before the end through Augustin Ţegean.
- The most goals were scored on February 27, 2023, Petrolul-CFR Cluj 2-5.
- The most recent direct Superliga match: October 20, 2025, Petrolul-CFR Cluj 1-0 (Denis Radu).
- It should be remembered that the last trophy in Prahoven's showcase, the Romanian Cup 2012/13, was won after a final contested in front of this round's opponent, Petrolul-CFR Cluj 1-0 (June 1, 2013).
