CFR Cluj – Dinamo 2-0 » The “Dogs” end the regular season on their knees

On the other hand, Dinamo reaches three consecutive failures, ends the season on 5th, after being on the podium for a long time, and has an away derby with Rapid in the first stage.

Chronicle by Marius Mărgărit after CFR Cluj – Dinamo 2-0: CFR continues the march! In Gruia, Dinamo had a crushing but ineffective possession, and the Transylvanians prevailed more clearly than the table showed

The curtain fell on the 2025/2026 regular season, with a play-off delicacy, a CFR Cluj – Dinamo, at stake. Because the Transylvanians could have crowned their marathon of consecutive victories in the last 10 rounds with a 4th place. Just above the “dogs”, who, with a success, would have ended the first part of the season on the last step of the podium.

Enough reasons to expect a fierce and spectacular match, with two of the most offensive formations of the championship. Plus there was a small rematch, after the round game, when, barely named, but not on the bench, Daniel Pancu watched helplessly from the stands as his future team lost everything in overtime.

From there, the team from Gruia started climbing, from the first stage of the return, from 13th place, with only 13 points, while Dinamo was still good then, also in 4th place. Forcing versus constancy. The last rehearsal, the moment when you can measure a rival for the final confrontations.

Muhar struck quickly

Dinamo started better. With high pressure, with possession, repeatedly passing into the opponent's half. CFR surprised at the start, appearing apathetic. It was just an impression, because on a counter processed by Biliboc, on the second appearance in the guests' box, Muhar scored with a classic “elbow” at the long corner.

It was the moment that changed the game, because CFR had thrown down the gauntlet. And Dinamo responded quickly, with a situation, but Cîrjan is too short to score with his head among the massive stoppers from Gruia.

After a few minutes of amazement, the guests resumed the positional assault. But the Transylvanians have found that identity by which they can afford to stay in a defensive arc, ready to launch with the sprints of Cordea or Biliboc, the new sensation of Pancu's team. Who, suspended, saw the match also from the stands.

Dinamo with the ball, CFR with the net

The guests' attempts kept hitting like a rock, against a defense that didn't leave many gaps. Practically, Dinamo dominated, but CFR controlled the match. One without chances, but with pace, intensity and strong duels. On a hard ground, with many areas of dirt, with brush cut grass, on which the stability would suffer.

Not for the Braun car, which proved its strength with two opponents, even if it had been knocked down in the first phase. Towards the end of the half, the hosts came out of their shells and tried to strike once more.

A noise of only a few minutes, crowned by Aliev's goal, on a “free” when Epassy went completely crazy, the perfect gift for the hosts' separation. When Dinamo had reached a possession of 61%! Barren!

Thus, a third consecutive defeat of Kopic's boys was already taking shape. While CFR enters the cabins with a good enough advantage to continue the perfect streak.

Same dominance, zero effect

Naturally, Dinamo came out of the cabins determined to do something, somehow, to reduce the difference. He attacked, many times like in handball, across the entire width of the field, near Popa's box. But still no opportunities. Because Cîrjan, the one from whom everyone expects to give a spark, to make light, caught another gray day.

He didn't get along with his colleagues right at the moment of the final pass, he got lost in personal actions without the courage to see things through. Too fragile for important battles.

CFR was also more dangerous, on a counter where Korenica, from a very good position, failed to beat Epassy. After an hour of play, Dinamo had increased their possession to 64%, but unable to move really dangerously for the home defense.

Dinamo in crisis, cannot score even from the penalty

Only after the 70th minute, Stoinov had a chance, but his execution, from the middle of the box, was blocked by the Transylvanian stoppers.

So the match went according to the rhythm dictated by Cluj, who benefited fully from the powerlessness of the Dynamo players, although in the meantime Musi and Mazilu had appeared on the field. Pancu's gladiators parried everything. And they led the hostilities even from defensive positions, even with top scorer Cordea almost absent.

At the end, after a shot by Tarbă, Djokovic raised his hand for the penalty. He beat Cîrjan, but Popa was better. And then Soro threw one of the last hopes far into the lawn, from only a few meters. Musi imitated him in the last phase. When it's all going to go downhill…

CFR held on until the end, climbed to 4, but also the record of consecutive victories to 11. He will play the first match in the play-off with “cousins” from “U”. What a derby! Dinamo dropped to 5th place and another derby awaits, with Rapid. But after 4 defeats in a row, the worries are greater than the hopes.

FINAL » CFR Cluj – Dinamo 2-0

• The 79th minute: Chance for Dinamo! Opruț crosses, Ikoko appears to finish, but Camora rejects.

• The 63rd minute: Two changes at Dinamo: Gnahore and Sivis leave, Mazilu and Ikoko enter. Two moves also at CFR: Sinyan and Cordea leave, Huja and Păun enter.

• The 47th minute: Matei Ilie makes a mistake, Soro takes an action on his own, but is blocked at the last moment.

Break in Gruia! CFR Cluj leads Dinamo 2-0.

• The 44th minute: naked CFR Cluj! Perfect cross from Korenica, Alibek Aliev rises to head home after a fortuitous clearance from Devis Epassy. Dinamo is KO! The Cameroonian relapses after the mistake made in the match with Petrolul.

• The 43rd minute: CFR Cluj returns to the attack, Korenica shoots just wide of Dinamo's goal, better moments for the hosts at the end of the half.

• The 41st minute: Djokovic's shot is not bad at all, Epassy touches the ball and rejects it in the corner, a rather long and well-coordinated action by CFR.

• The 39th minute: Cîrjan modestly shoots over the goal, extremely poor play by Dinamo, a continuation of the form from the last period.

• Minute 19: Danny Armstrong takes an action on his own in the right lane, crosses for the same Cîrjan, but the ball comes behind the Dynamo captain.

• Minute 6: naked CFR Cluj! Biliboc gets rid of Sivis, Gnahore doesn't reach the Transylvanian kid, who passes to Muhar. The Croat cold-bloodedly executes Epassy at the first dangerous action.

The starting teams at CFR Cluj – Dinamo

CFR Cluj (4-3-3): M. Popa – Camora, Sinyan, Matei Ilie, Braun – Muhar, Djokovic, Korenica – Cordea, Alibek Aliev, Biliboc
reserves: Valceanu, Abeid, Kun, Huja, T. Keita, Perianu, Deac, A. Păun, Fică, Sfaiț, Zahovic, Slimani
Coach Daniel Pancu

Dinamo (4-3-3): Epassy – Sivis, Boateng, Stoinov, Opruț – Cîrjan, Gnahore, Cr. Mihai – Soro, Al. Pop, Armstrong
reserves: Roșca, Din Licaciu, Musi, Milanov, Mazilu, Tarbă, M. Toader, Duțu, Ikoko, Țicu, Andreas Matteo N'Giuwu
Coach Zeljko Kopic

• Alexandru Musi, the regular holder of the U21 post at Dinamo, is a reserve. Cristi Mihai fulfills the rule for this game.

Stadium: “Dr. Constantin Rădulescu” – Cluj Napoca
Referee: Szabolcs Kovacs (Carrie). Assistants: Marius Marica (Bistrita), Raul Ghiciulescu (Lugoj)
VAR Referee: Marcel Bîrsan (Bucharest). Assistant VAR: Daniel Mitruți (Craiova)

UPDATE 19:30 » Images from the lawn

UPDATE 18:20 » The CFR Cluj locker room is ready

The hosts' locker room is ready before the match with Dinamo. Everything is ready for the arrival of the team in the locker room in Gruia.