Hello there, fellow football enthusiasts! James Richardson here, and I’m delighted to guide you through this intriguing Europa League qualifying clash between Romania’s CFR Cluj and Switzerland’s Lugano. Having watched more European qualifiers than I’ve had hot dinners in Manchester (and believe me, that’s saying something), I’ve got a good feeling about this one.
Match Prediction: CFR Cluj to Win (+123)
I’ve studied the form book thoroughly, and CFR Cluj offers tremendous value at odds of +123 to win this second leg. After a goalless draw in Switzerland, the Romanians return to their Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu home, where they’ve been rather formidable, winning 7 of their last 10 matches and 13 of their last 20 on home soil.
While Dan Petrescu’s men did stumble in their recent Romanian SuperLiga match, losing 2-0 to Arges Pitesti, their European pedigree should shine through here. The bookies have given this a 44.8% probability, but my assessment puts it closer to 50%, making this a value bet worth considering for your slip.
Goals Outlook
The first leg wasn’t exactly a goal-fest, ending 0-0 despite Lugano enjoying a whopping 78% possession. However, it was Cluj who edged the shots on target count 2-1, suggesting they were more clinical with their limited opportunities.
- CFR Cluj: Averaged 1.5 goals in their last 10 matches, conceding 1.3
- Lugano: Score 1.1 but concede 1.8 per game
- Lugano’s Away Record: Lost 6 of their last 10 away games
With Lugano’s defensive frailties on the road, I fancy Cluj to find the net here.
Both Teams to Score?
This is a tricky one. Cluj has attacking threats like Postolachi and Munteanu, both recently scoring 3 goals, while Lugano can score through Grgic, who has 3 goals, and Doumbia, who netted in their 2-1 defeat against Thun. However, with the first leg ending 0-0 and both teams appearing somewhat goal-shy in recent outings, this might not be a game where both teams find the net.
Managing Your Stake
For those looking to have a flutter on this European encounter, I’d suggest keeping your stake sensible. European qualifiers can be unpredictable beasts — I’ve seen more shocking results in these early rounds than I’ve had failed attempts at making a decent cup of tea during half-time (and my kettle gets quite the workout during match days).
Remember, the smart money is on Cluj to win, but don’t go chasing excessive returns in matches like these. Keep it simple, enjoy the football, and hopefully we’ll be celebrating a nice little winner come the final whistle on Thursday afternoon.