LIVE CFR Cluj – Rapid, derby in the 2nd stage of the Superliga play-off

The two rivals are separated by 4 points, they debuted in the play-off with opposite results: Rapid defeated Dinamo (3-2), CFR Cluj lost with U Cluj (1-2).

With a victory, Rapid will consolidate its leading position, while CFR Cluj would get closer to the top positions and enter strongly in the title fight.

CFR Cluj – Rapid, live from 21:45

CFR Cluj – Fast, likely teams

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

Quick (4-3-3): Aioani – Onea, Pașcanu, Kramer, Borza – Moruțan, Vulturar, Grameni – Dobre, Paraschiv, Petrila
Reserves: Iliev, Ciobotariu, Bolgado, Manea, K. Keita, Christensen, Hromada, G. Gheorghe, A. Șucu, Talisson, Hazrollaj, Koljic
Coach: Costel Gâlcă

Stadium: “Dr. Constantin Rădulescu” (Cluj-Napoca)
Referee: Sebastian Colțescu // Assistants: Valentin Avram, Alexandru Cerei
VAR Referee: Florin Andrei // Assistant VAR: Romica Birdeș

The third game since I've been here. Rapid is better than in previous matches. Moruțan and Paraschiv integrate and play closer to their real value. And they have more positional attacks that end with finishing. I would have liked an extra day of rest, but we have to be ready. The result in the first match, that 3-0, rarely happens. Now it will be something else.

– Daniel Pancu, CFR Cluj coach

As the statistics show, it will be a very balanced match. We meet CFR, the most in-form team, with only one defeat in the last ten games. It will be a very close game from our point of view.

Considering the last games as well, we hope to play a good game, to adapt to the state of the pitch, it's not that good. Whoever will be consistent and make the fewest mistakes will win the championship.

Pancu has some very good results, he has an extraordinary career, an average of 2.60 points per game. It's a very good performance for him. We have no batch problem for this game.

– Dumitru Uzunea, Rapid second coach

The live standings from the Superliga play-off

The best statistics before CFR Cluj – Rapid

• October 25, 2025, CFR Cluj-Farul 0-2 was the only defeat suffered by the Transylvanian team in the last 12 matches played in the championship at home, the rest three draws and eight wins.

• The Giulești team won eight of the 15 away games in the current edition, and four other times they ended in a draw.

• The teams with the most goals scored in the first 30 minutes meet, 17 each.

• Rapid scored 15 goals from set pieces, eight of which came from corners.

• CFR Cluj scored every time in the previous 13 stages, during which they collected five matches without conceding a goal.

• 42 players used Cluj in the current championship, the most of all competitors. On the other hand, Rapid was based on 33 footballers, Alexandru Dobre being the only one who checked attendance in every match.

• The two teams have met in the main domestic competition 52 times, Cluj won 18 times, Giulești won 21 times, and another 13 games ended in a draw.

• Records with CFR host: 26 games – 12 CFR victories – 8 draws – 6 Rapid successes.

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

• The rapid handed 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 chronicle from “Popular Sport” being a suggestive one: “THE FIGURES HAVE NOT REACHED THE TABLE ANYMORE…”. 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 bore the signature of Bazil Marian, and three others were achieved by Zavoda I. At the end of the 1948/1949 season, Rapid finished 2nd, while CFR took the B road, from where it would return in 1969.

• The most recent direct confrontation in the Superliga: November 23, 2025, CFR Cluj-Rapid 3-0.

• The game will be a special one for Daniel Pancu, the Transylvanian coach being a legendary name in the history of the Rapid club (218 matches / 69 goals on the first stage), in whose shirt he won the title at the end of the 1998/1999 season.