CFR Cluj v Celtic Betting Tips – UEFA Champions League, 7th August 19.00pm
Celtic’s UEFA Champions League qualifying journey continues on Wednesday as Neil Lennon takes his troops to Romania to play Dan Petrescu’s CFR Cluj, with the second leg taking place at Celtic Park six nights later. The Bhoys, who were dominant in the Scottish Premiership last season, head into this two-legged tie as the favourites to progress through to the play-off round. Can Lennon’s men secure a win at CFR Cluj Stadium?
CFR Cluj v Celtic Betting Odds*
CFR Cluj 9/5
Draw 21/10
Celtic 8/5
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 6th, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.)
Visit Bet365
Table of Contents
CFR Cluj News and Form – Can Petrescu’s men take a positive result to Scotland?
CFR Cluj finished in first place in Liga I last term, winning 15, drawing nine and losing just two of their 26 regular season matches. They then won the Championship Round, finishing two points ahead of FCSB to claim the one Champions League spot up for grabs in Romania. That was Cluj’s fifth Liga I title and their second successive championship.
The Railwaymen kicked off this season with a 1-0 loss to Viitorul Constanta in the Romanian Super Cup. They have already played four league games, winning three and drawing one. Petrescu’s side sit second behind Viitorul at present.
Cluj lost 1-0 to Astana in the first leg of their Champions League first qualifying round tie. However, they turned things around on home soil, with a Billel Omrani brace helping them to a 3-1 win. The Romanian champions then beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-2 on aggregate in the previous round.
Cluj are very strong at CFR Cluj Stadium, but have they got enough to claim a positive result against the Scottish giants on their own patch this Wednesday night?
CFR Cluj v Celtic Head to Head
This two-legged Champions League qualifying tie will be the first meeting between CFR Cluj and Celtic.
- Cluj are the reigning Romanian champions
- Celtic have won eight Scottish league titles in a row
- The Hoops have won five out of five in all competitions so far this season
Celtic News and Form – Can the Bhoys come out on top in Romania?
Celtic have started this season in fine fettle, winning all five of their league and cup matches thus far. In Champions League qualifying, the Hoops have beaten Sarajevo and Nomme Kalju, scoring an impressive 12 goals and shipping just two along the way.
Celtic won their 50th Scottish title last year, winning 27 of their 38 league games. Brendan Rodgers, who left for Leicester City, did the groundwork, with Lennon coming in to see the job through in the latter months of the season. Celtic finished nine points ahead of rivals Rangers.
The Scottish champions kicked off the defence of their title with a thumping 7-0 win over St Johnstone last weekend. A Ryan Christie treble, and goals from Michael Johnston, Olivier Ntcham, Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths did the job. Next up in the Premiership is a trip to Motherwell at the weekend.
Celtic will be eyeing up a good result in Romania ahead of the second leg at Celtic Park. The Bhoys have won their opening two away games in this season’s Champions League qualifying, and they look a good bet to make it three victories out of three on Wednesday.
CFR Cluj v Celtic Tips & Odds
Celtic to win -1 at 4/1
Celtic to be winning at half time and full time at 10/3
* (Betting Odds were taken from bet365 on August 6th, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.)
CFR Cluj v Celtic Predictions
Celtic win: Lennon’s Bhoys have hit the ground running at the start of this season, and Celtic will be targeting another victory on Wednesday. On paper, the Hoops have the better team and they should have too much quality for their Romanian opponents over two legs. I’m backing the visitors to win -1 in midweek, which you can get at the tempting price of 4/1. The Scottish champions have been leading at half time in each of their last four games. With that in mind, back Celtic to be winning at half time and full time (10/3) in this one.
