Corvinul and U Cluj will meet for the first time in Liga 1 since the 1990-1991 season. This evening’s match features five players from Corvinul who have played for “Șepcile roșii” earlier in their careers.
The game is scheduled for 21:00 at the “Petre Libardi” stadium in Petroșani. Both teams are vying for a playoff spot, marking a significant reunion after 35 years in Romania’s top football league.
U Cluj will enjoy support from local Jiul fans, who have publicly declared their backing for the team in tonight’s encounter.
There is a narrow three-point gap in the league standings between U Cluj and Corvinul.
U Cluj Holds Edge in Historical Matchup Against Corvinul
The two teams have faced each other 20 times in the top league, with Corvinul winning six matches, U Cluj ten, and four ending in draws. The first-ever match took place on April 18, 1954, with Știința Cluj defeating Metalul Hunedoara 2-1.
Corvinul’s initial victory was on September 4, 1960, with a 2-0 score against Știința Cluj. The highest-scoring encounter occurred on June 18, 1987, when Corvinul triumphed over U Cluj 5-3. The last meeting in Romania’s Superliga was on March 21, 1991, concluding with U Cluj winning 2-0, thanks to goals from Marius Popescu and Valerius Tămaș.
Former Players’ Reunion at U Cluj
This matchup offers a unique scenario as five players from Corvinul’s current roster have previously played for U Cluj and are now set to compete against their former team.
Leading the charge is Nicolae Pîrvulescu, who joined U Cluj in the 2018/19 season and has since made 71 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing three assists.
Other notable players include Florin Ilie and Sergio Ribeiro, who both contributed to U Cluj’s return to Superliga. Ilie, a defender from UTA, has made 42 appearances and scored three goals, while Ribeiro played 45 matches and netted 11 goals during his tenure from 2020 to 2022.
Brazilian Roger Junio has also donned the U Cluj jersey, with 21 appearances this season. The most recent player familiar with U Cluj is midfielder Andrej Fabry, who recorded one goal and seven assists in 37 games for the team between February 2025 and April 2026. He has made 13 appearances this season for Corvinul, contributing one goal and two assists.
