Celtic V CFR Cluj
Thursday 3 October 2019 – 20:00 Kick-Off
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 29/20
Bookmaker: Betfair
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13/25 | 29/10 | 69/10 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 1 October 2019 at 09:00)
Preview: You know football has to be a small world when two teams who would clash earlier in the season in one competition end up facing each other less than two months later in another. Which is the case here for Celtic and CFR Cluj, who renew acquaintances in this Europa League Group E meeting inside Celtic Park.
UEFA Europa League Betting – 22Bet
Celtic Preview – Scottish champions hell-bent on revenge?
Less than two months since losing to the same opposition in the third qualifying round for the Champions League, Celtic (8/15 with WilliamHill) come face-to-face with the team who unceremoniously dumped them out of a competition they longed for. Victory would far from atone for surrendering two separate leads to lose 4-3 on the night at Celtic Park, but it might provide some closure – as well as secure them the small matter of three points in the group.
Neil Lennon’s side already have one point tucked away of course, after earning a share of the spoils in France against Rennes first time out. Ryan Christie converted his second-half penalty to ensure Celtic would not depart pointless. It was also nothing less than they deserved on the balance of play (xG: REN 1.21 – 1.19 CEL) as the current Scottish champions essentially matched a team who were flying high in Ligue 1 at the time.
Celtic were to claim another 1-1 draw not long after, held by Hibernian on Saturday in what was to be their first dropped points of the domestic campaign in Scotland (W6 D1). As disappointing as that outcome would have been, take nothing away from their efforts thus far as The Hoops have once again been head and shoulders above their rivals in 2019/20. Particularly at home, where they can still boast a 100% record in league action (W3, GF13 GA2).
CFR Cluj Preview – Romanians to thrive off underdog status again?
Competing in only their second ever group campaign in the Europa League are the reigning champions from Romania for each of the previous two seasons, CFR Cluj (15/2 with Betfair). The club also know all about their upcoming opponents having faced off against them back in August, producing a stunning 4-3 victory away from home that came courtesy of a 97th-minute winner from George Tucudean.
That win was all the more remarkable for the fact it was their only away success in Europe of 2019/20, having already lost in Kazakhstan (L1-0 Astana) and Czech Republic (L1-0 Slavia Praha), as well as drawing in Israel (2-2 Maccabi Tel-Aviv). However, the last occasion the club would feature in a UEFA group stage – for the 2012/13 Champions League – they would finish unbeaten on their travels (W2 D1), including winning 1-0 at Manchester United.
Quite how relevant those escapades from seven years ago are is dubious, but Cluj have history for being underestimated and defying sizeable odds in Europe. Form-wise, they will arrive in Scotland in decent shape. Not only did they recently record another famous win in Europe, this time at home to Lazio on Matchday One (2-1) after coming from a goal down, but they are also perched atop the Romanian Liga 1 with only one loss from their opening eleven fixtures (W7 D3 L1 – W2 D2 L1 away).
Celtic V CFR CLuj Key Facts:
- Celtic drew their first game of the group 1-1 in France with Rennes.
- CFR Cluj clawed back a 1-0 deficit to stun Italian club Lazio in their opening group game, winning 2-1 in Romania.
- This will be their third meeting, with the previous two occuring as recently as August when CFR Cluj won 4-3 at Celtic Park to win a tie 5-4 on aggregate.
Betting Summary
The club will naturally do its best to downplay the significance of this fixture, that it isn’t a grudge match or about revenge, but it would be foolish to think losing to this same opponent won’t be in the back of one or two minds of the players in the Celtic camp. There will be several keen to make amends here. Meanwhile, the Scottish side would draw their first group game 1-1 in Rennes but have been superb domestically, topping the SPL after an unbeaten start (W6 D1).
Apart from a briefly successful campaign in 2012/13 when they would pick up famous results at Braga, Galatasaray and Man Utd, Romanian side CFR Cluj have largely been anonymous on the European stage in recent times. In making it this far, to the Europa League group stages, has to be considered a success. Yet this team is capable of springing a surprise, as it showcased against Lazio in their opening game of the group and particularly that shock 4-3 win at Celtic in August.
Celtic are odds-on favourites to exact some form of revenge here and while that is short, I suspect that will be the case. Cluj are no mugs, though, and could trouble them again particularly as Celtic haven’t been watertight defensively, keeping no clean sheet in three games and winning the last two at home by the same 3-1 scoreline. Celtic & Both Teams to Score is 10/3 with Betfair.
