CFR Cluj and Braga return to action in the Europa League qualifiers when they square off in the first leg of their third-round clash on Thursday.
Both sides will be looking to place one foot in the playoff round, and Football Whispers examines the odds of both teams coming away with the desired results at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu.
Contents
CFR Cluj vs Braga prediction: Braga to open the scoring
Key stats
- CFR Cluj have failed to win four of their most recent five games, losing twice and claiming two draws while conceding six goals and four across the five matches.
- Braga are unbeaten in 16 of their last 17 matches across all competitions (11W, 6D), with a 2-1 defeat against Casa Pia on May 10 being the exception.
- Cluj are unbeaten in 15 of their 17 competitive home games across all competitions in 2025, picking up 13 wins and two draws since the turn of the year.
- Braga have lost just one of their last six competitive away games since March 15, picking up two wins and three draws in that time.
- The Portuguese outfit have netted the opening goal in eight of their nine games since the 1-1 draw against Santa Clara on May 3.
Correct score prediction: CFR Cluj 1-3 Braga
Cluj and Braga scraped through the second qualifying round by the skin of their teeth and will be looking to secure an early march on ahead of next week’s return leg. While home advantage gives Cluj a slight edge, Braga boasts a superior and more experienced squad, and we are backing them to come out on top at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Braga to pick up first-leg advantage
HOME: 3/1 (4.00) – 25%
DRAW: 5/2 (3.50) – 28.6%
AWAY: 10/11 (1.91) – 52.4%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
The bookmakers favour Braga to come out on top at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu on Thursday against an inconsistent Club side.
The Portuguese side have been given a 52.4% win probability, compared to CFR Cluj’s 25%, while there is a 28.6% chance of both sides settling for a share of the spoils.
Cluj were left empty-handed for a second consecutive league game as they fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Universitatea Craiova last Sunday.
As for Braga, they have won six of their seven matches across all competitions, with a goalless draw against Levski Sofia on July 24 being the only exception.
Ahead of Thursday’s crunch first leg, today’s free football betting tips take a look at some of the best picks and predictions from Football Whispers.
Most recent H2Hs: Cluj the dominant side
This will be the third meeting between CFR Cluj and Braga, with the Romanian powerhouse picking up two wins from their previous two encounters.
Both meetings came in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers back in 2012, with Braga losing 2-0 at the Estadio Braga Municipal on September 19, two months before suffering a 3-1 defeat in the second leg in Romania.
CFR Cluj Preview: Struggles back at home
Cluj failed to find their feet in the Romanian Superliga last Sunday when they fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Universitatea Craiova on home turf.
After Steven Nsimba scored on either side of Mihnea Radulescu’s 45th-minute strike to put them in a commanding three-goal lead, Universitatea had to see off a late comeback scare at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu as Matei Ilie netted a second-half brace for Cluj.
Since kicking off the new Romanian top-flight campaign with a 2-1 victory over Unirea Slobozia on July 13, Cluj have failed to win their subsequent three outings (1D, 2L).
While Dan Petrescu’s men have struggled back home, they have made it through the first two rounds of the Europa League qualifiers as they look to reach the group stages for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign.
Having kicked off the qualifiers with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Hungarian outfit Paks FC, Cluj needed a 96th-minute strike from Sheriff Sinyan to secure a 1-0 victory over Lugano in the second leg of their second-round clash to win the tie 1-0 on aggregate.
Predicted lineup: Hindrich (GK), Camora, Ilie, Sinyan, Bosec, Korenica, Djokovic, Fica, Nkololo, Postolachi & Munteanu
Romania Liga I 10/05/25
D
CS U Craiova
2
CFR Cluj
2
Romania Liga I 03/05/25
W
Universitatea Cluj
0
CFR Cluj
1
Romania Liga I 28/04/25
D
Dinamo Bucharest
1
CFR Cluj
1
Romania Cup 24/04/25
W
Farul Constanta
1
CFR Cluj
4
Romania Liga I 20/04/25
L
FCSB
3
CFR Cluj
2
Braga preview: On a run lately
Braga narrowly scaled through the Europa League second qualifying round as they picked up a 1-0 aggregate victory over Levski Sofia.
Following an outstanding pre-season campaign, where they won each of their five warm-up games, Carlos Vicens’s men were held to a goalless draw by Levski Sofia in the first leg at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium on July 24.
However, Braga made the most of their home advantage one week later as 27-year-old Fran Navarro netted the only goal of the game in extra time to send the Bulgarian outfit down to the UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
Braga head into Thursday’s clash unbeaten in each of their last eight matches across all competitions, picking up six wins and two draws since a 2-1 loss against Casa Pia on May 10.
Predicted lineup: Hornicek (GK), Carvalho, Oliveira, Niakate, Lagerbielke, Dorgeles, Moutinho, Gorby, Horta, Fernandes & Zalazar
Portugal Primeira Liga 10/05/25
L
Casa Pia
2
Braga
1
Portugal Primeira Liga 03/05/25
D
Santa Clara
1
Braga
1
Portugal Primeira Liga 25/04/25
D
Famalicao
1
Braga
1
Portugal Primeira Liga 19/04/25
W
Estoril
0
Braga
2
Portugal Primeira Liga 13/04/25
W
AVS
1
Braga
4
Players to watch – Louis Munteanu
Louis Munteanu was instrumental in CFR Cluj’s impressive 2024-25 campaign, and the Romanian international will be one to keep an eye on Thursday.
While Munteanu has endured a slow start to the new campaign, failing to find the back of the net in the opening three league games, he racked up 23 goals last season to win the Golden Boot.
The 23-year-old also turned in a performance of the highest quality in the Romanian Cup final as he scored one and set up another to inspire Cluj to a 3-2 victory over FC Hermannstadt on May 14.
Munteanu was rested in the league game against Universitatea Craiova last time out, but he should return to lead the attack on Thursday, alongside Beni Nkololo and Moldovan winger Virgiliu Postolachi.