LIVE U Cluj – CFR, the Transylvanian derby in the play-off

LIVE » U Cluj – CFR 1-1

• bullets: Jovo Lukic 4' / Lorenzo Biliboc 2'

• Click HERE for details and statistics about this match

• Minute 4: naked U Cluj! What a match at Cluj Arena! Mendy crosses, the ball is neatly cleared by Lukic, the Superliga's top scorer, and into Popa's goal.

• Minute 2: naked CFR Cluj! Simple scheme, Bic closes late, Coubis hesitates to attack him and Biliboc finishes in the short corner. Korenica cared about the prodigy from CFR.

• Minute 1: Match start at Cluj Arena! There were big problems with the away fans, who were not allowed to enter the stadium for no reason. Only close to the start of the match were they allowed access.

PHOTO GALLERY. The scenography of those from U Cluj at the derby with CFR

U Cluj – CFR, starting teams

U Cluj (4-1-2-3): Gertmonas – Mikanovic, I. Cristea, Coubis, Chinteș – Bic – Drammeh, Nistor – O. Mendy, Lukic, Macalou
reserves: Lefter, T. Coșa, Cisse, Capradossi, M. Gomes, Stanojev, Murgia, Pall, El Sawy, A. Gheorghiță, Fabry, Postolachi
Coach: Cristiano Bergodi

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

Stadium: Cluj Arena (Cluj-Napoca)
Referee: Marian Barbu (Făgăraş)
ASSISTANT: Adrian Vornicu (Iasi) and Imre-Laszlo Bucsi (Sfântu Gheorghe)
VAR referee: Florin Andrei (Târgu Mureș)
Assistant VAR: Valentin Porumbel (Oltenița)

Cristiano Bergodi returns to the “Red Caps” bench after the suspension dictated in the last confrontation, a month ago, which ended with the victory of the railwaymen, score 3-2.

With a series of 11 consecutive victories at the moment, Daniel Pancu can take CFR to the podium if the formation he is preparing will impose itself in the Cluj Derby, a situation in which the rival from his hometown can also be. The two teams are equal on points, after half time, 27 in number.

The hosts' gallery made their presence, on Sunday, at the team's last training session and encouraged the players.

UPDATE 18:40 » Images from U Cluj's locker room

Cluj University also published images from the team's locker room, prepared before the derby with CFR. The “student” jerseys are already placed on the players' seats, awaiting the team's arrival at the stadium.

UPDATE 18:00 » Cluj Arena, ready for the derby

The University of Cluj published, on social networks, several images from the Cluj Arena approximately two and a half hours before the start of the derby with CFR.

“Our home on derby day,” said the “red caps”, a message accompanied by photos of the stadium prepared for tonight's game.

UPDATE 17:30 » Mario Camora extended his contract with CFR on the day of the derby

Defender Mario Camora (39 years old) signed a contract extension with CFR Cluj. He signed an agreement valid until the summer of 2027.

Having reached the age of 39, the footballer who has the most appearances in the shirt of CFR Cluj, will stay one more year with the team from Ardeal. He arrived at the club in 2011 and collected over 500 matches for CFR, becoming a real symbol during the years he spent at this formation.

Mario Camora, contract extension with CFR Cluj / photo: Facebook CFR Cluj

U Cluj – CFR, the Transylvanian derby in the play-off

It was a very difficult time. My assistants replaced me well, I'm glad that the players also did very well. They showed ambition and played very nice matches. It's a coincidence that I'm coming right back against the team that episode was against. I want us to win this game, my comeback is the last thing on my mind. I want to start the play-off right, I saw that it was also a surprise, anything can happen. It will be an extraordinary play-off. We meet the most in-form team, 11 wins in a row, a team with a well-defined style and difficult to beat.
– Cristiano Bergodi, U Cluj coach

9of the 22 goals scored by the “students” on the first stage in 2026 were successful from set pieces, and another six on the counterattack

It's a derby, big egos are at stake. We are two teams with a similar, fantastic track record. The only difference between us in the second leg is the direct match. We meet a well-organized team, with technique, experience, speed. It's a team with a high chance of winning this championship, like the others in the play-offs. I don't know if there will be many goals. I would like us not to concede a goal and to get at least one point. It was a strange week, on Wednesday we still didn't know what day we were playing, after all we play Monday-Friday, the only ones who do. We have players who are still not 100% on the fourth day. We hope that the fittest, fittest ones will perform very well. The tactical details will matter.
– Daniel Pancu, CFR Cluj coach

40of meetings there have been, so far, in the Superliga, between U Cluj and CFR. The University prevailed eight times, CFR won 20 times, and 12 other games ended in a draw

U Cluj – CFR, statistics before the match

• The “red caps” have not lost in the championship at home since November 1, 2025, U Cluj – FCSB 0-2. Seven wins and a draw followed at home.

• CFR Cluj comes after 11 victories in a row on the first stage, a unique series in the Super League during one season in the last 19 seasons.

• The railways have scored at least one goal in 15 of the previous 16 games in the current edition.

• Two players from the home team collected more than 15 offensive contributions: Jovo Lukic – 17 (15 goals, 2 assists) and Issouf Macalou – 16 (6 goals, 10 assists). On the other hand, the best in this chapter is Andrei Cordea, 11 goals scored and four decisive assists.

• The first match in the Romanian Superliga is considered the one on December 7, 1947, Ferar – U 1-3. In the winter of 1947/'48, Ferar merged with the second division CFR Cluj, and thus, in return, we fully enjoy the first duel at the highest level, U-CFR Ferar 2-4. The coaches were Nicolae Munteanu (U), respectively Elemer Hirsch (CFR).

• In the following season, 1948/'49, the two teams took the “B” road together, just as they would do at the end of the 1975/'76 season.

• October 25, 1970, CFR – U Cluj 2-1, for the “students” Mihai Adam scored, the one who entered the history of Romanian football as the only player to win the top scorer title with two teams from the same city (twice with U, one top scorer title with CFR). In total, he scored 5 goals in the Cluj derby, 4 of them in the CFR shirt.

• May 3, 1972, U – CFR 1-0, Ion Munteanu goal. After this success, the “Red Caps” waited 42 years until they ticked off another victory on the first stage in front of the Cherries (March 24, 2014, CFR – U Cluj 1-2, goals Ogbu / Lemnaru, Ciupe). During all this time, the two have met at the highest level 17 times, eight CFR successes and nine draws.

• May 7, 2008, Cluj University – CFR 0-1, success following which CFR became the champion of Romania for the first time.

• The most goals in a duel on the first stage: August 21, 2023, Cluj University – CFR Cluj 3-4.

• The most recent direct Superliga match: February 7, 2026, CFR Cluj – Universitatea Cluj 3-2.

• Cristiano Bergodi coached CFR in the 2006/2007 season, at the end of which the railwaymen from Cluj ranked first on the podium (3rd place) and achieved their first qualification in the European Cups.