CFR Cluj – Pandurii Tg Jiu
Football: Romania : Liga 1
“Dr. Constantin Radulescu” stadium, Cluj-Napoca
Saturday 20 March 2010, Kickoff: 17:00 GMT +2

---

CFR Cluj (1st) W11-D7-L4 27-14

CFR Cluj are going through a rough period, they only accumulated 6 points after 5 games which according to statistics it’s their worst start of the second part of the championship in 5 years.

This led the shareholders to seriously think about replacing the Italian coach Andrea Mandorlini, after another draw against Gaz Metan Medias (0-0). The team played without any perspectives, and the only reason they are still in first place is because their contenders are constantly making wrong steps, like Rapid who could have taken the lead, but they inexplicably lost at home against Astra Ploiesti.

They are considering to bring back Maurizio Trombetta, the coach who lead them to their most important victory of all, 2-1 against AS Roma, in the 2008-2009 UCL group stage and a draw against Chelsea at home (0-0).

Back to this match, CFR looks like favorites against the team that is only in 14th place, but Pandurii Tg-Jiu were the last team that managed to defeat CFR Cluj at their stadium, in 6th of April 2008 when they won 2-1. In four clashes played in Cluj, CFR has only won 1 of them, losing 2 and one game ended in a draw.

However, CFR has a good record this season in front of their crowd, 7-4-0, but in the previous games they only drew against Dinamo and Steaua.

Last 5 CFR Cluj home results :
13.03.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 21 CFR Cluj 2-2 Dinamo
28.02.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 19 CFR Cluj 1-1 Steaua
12.12.2009 Liga 1 Etapa 17 CFR Cluj 2-0 Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt
28.11.2009 Liga 1 Etapa 15 CFR Cluj 2-0 U Craiova
08.11.2009 Liga 1 Etapa 13 CFR Cluj 1-0 Astra Ploiesti

Pandurii Tg-Jiu (14th) W5-D8-L9 15-21

Pandurii is coming after an incredible streak of 3 goalless draws, which makes it their 5th goalless draw since the championship began. This means they are the lowest scoring side from the league, with only 15 goals in 22 games. The last draw was fatal to the coach, Liviu Ciobotariu(ex-Dinamo player), who presented his resignation.

The new coach is in the same time the old coach of the team, experimented technician, Sorin Cartu. He is making a specialty in saving teams from relegation, and he is doing it very well. His teams are renowned for having an almost impenetrable defense, but the time he can change anything until this match is very limited. However, Cartu was on Pandurii’s bench in the last two games they beat CFR Cluj (1-0 and 2-1).

Their last win on the road was in the 5th stage of the championship, 2-1 against Ceahlaul Piatra-Neamt. Since then, in 7 away games they only scored 2 goals.

Last 5 Pandurii away results :
13.03.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 21 InternationalArges 0-0 Pandurii Tg. Jiu
27.02.2010 Liga 1 Etapa 19 FC Vaslui 2-1 Pandurii Tg. Jiu
06.12.2009 Liga 1 Etapa 16 FC Timisoara 1-0 Pandurii Tg. Jiu
24.11.2009 Liga 1 Etapa 14 Poli Iasi 1-0 Pandurii Tg. Jiu
02.11.2009 Liga 1 Etapa 12 FC Brasov 2- 0 Pandurii Tg. Jiu

The Betting Verdict :

The pressure is under CFR Cluj, there are six teams behind them grouped in only 2 points, so any wrong step here would mean losing the lead and also the coach could be sacked.

The Cluj task won’t be easy, they will be facing an overcrowded defense, Pandurii’s only objective in this match is a draw. It’s the best defense from the league against the worst attack so there is no hope for Pandurii to score here.

If CFR won’t score in the first 30 minutes the situation will get very complicated for them. There is no value on backing CFR at 1.25, considering how mediocre their last performances were.

The Pick :

CFR Cluj 1-0 Pandurii

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Under 2.50 Goals at 1.60 => confidence 9/10
Or Under 2.25 Goals @ 1.78 => confidence 7.5/10

Or a small bet on draw at 5.40 => confidence 4/10