CFR Cluj vs Dinamo Bucureşti Prediction: An easy start for the White and Burgundies

After almost getting relegated last season, Dinamo Bucureşti will start their 2024/2025 Romania Liga I campaign when they travel to the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu on Sunday to face CFR Cluj. CFR Cluj are unbeaten in their last 12 games against Dinamo Bucureşti. Can the CFR People continue this run? Below are previews, head-to-head statistics, expert betting tips, and odds.

CFR Cluj ended last season second on the table and will hope to get back to their glory days. The Provincial Champions have five league titles in the previous seven seasons, but they have struggled in the last two seasons. They ended last season with five wins in a row. They played three preseason friendlies where they saw one win, one draw and one loss.

During the transfer window, 25-year-old Nigerian winger Philip Otele concluded a move to Al-Wahda in the UAE Pro League for a deal worth €3.50m. Also, Cătălin Căbuz, Cristian Manea, Omar El Kaddouri, Filippo Falco, Petar Mamic, and Cristian Bălgrădean have all left the club. Anton Kresic, Alan Aussi and Raul Clemeniuc have all returned to their parent clubs after the end of their loan deals. However, CFR Cluj signed Léo Bolgado (centre-back) from Leixões in Portugal for €500k and Anton Kresic (centre-back) from HNK Rijeka in Croatia for €400k. Other new signees include Andrei Artean (defensive midfield), Mohammed Kamara (left winger), Adrian Păun (left winger), Béni Nkololo (right winger), Simão Rocha (left-back), Armend Thaqi (right-back), Kalifa Kujabi (central midfield), Meriton Korenica (right winger), and Moussa Samake (centre-forward).

Last season, Dinamo Bucureşti waited till the last game of the season to confirm their safety in the league. They finished 13th on the table to book a place in the relegation playoffs, which they won 2-0 on aggregate against Csikszereda M. Ciuc. Their performance in the preseason wasn't bad, with two wins, one draw and one defeat. 

During the transfer window, Denis Oncescu (goalkeeper) left the club on loan. Gonçalo Gregório (centre-forward), Dorian Railean (goalkeeper), Dani Iglesias (central midfield), Christian Ilic (central midfield), Neluț Roșu (central midfield), Deniz Giafer (centre-back), Valentin Borcea (attacking midfield), Alexandru Stoian (goalkeeper), Darko Velkovski (centre-back), Edgar Ié (centre-back), Quentin Bena (centre-back), Ricardo Grigore (centre-back), Gabriel Moura (right-back), Răzvan Began (goalkeeper), Domagoj Pavicic (central midfield), Aris Saloniki have all departed the club. They have added Alexandru Roșca, Kennedy Boateng, Cătălin Cîrjan, Adrian Caragea, Raul Rotund, and Răzvan Pașcalău to their squad.

From 2012 to date, CFR Cluj and Dinamo Bucureşti have met 29 times. CFR Cluj won 17, Dinamo Bucureşti won 4, and 8 games ended in draws. Their most recent clash ended in a 4-0 win for CFR Cluj. CFR Cluj are unbeaten in their last 12 games against Dinamo Bucureşti. CFR Cluj scored four each in their previous two home games against Dinamo Bucureşti.

CFR Cluj remain one of the best teams. Their consistency in the league over the decade is truly commendable. They finished last season as runner-up, and no team in the league scored more goals (19) in the championship group than CFR Cluj. So, give it to them to easily win this clash. However, with the recently found form of Dinamo Bucureşti, they should be able to get a consolation goal here.

• W1 for 1.60 odds
• BTTS for 2.10 odds
• Over 2.5 for 1.95 odds