Champions League
2012-10-02 - Cluj vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: European Champions League
Tuesday 2 October 2012 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
CFR Cluj
The Romanian Champions come into this game having picked up some good form recently as they get ready to host one of the big names in European football. Cluj are currently 5th in their domestic League, but they will need a extended period of positive form if they are to make up the 9 point differential between themselves and Steaua Bucharest.
Cluj have now lost just 1 of their last 8 games in all competitions and they have actually won 6 of those games. Their home form has been even better as they have moved onto a 9 game unbeaten run, winning 3 of their last 4 including a thumping 5-1 win over Gloria Bistrita on Saturday.
The side are actually coming into this Group Stage game as the leaders of the section following a 0-2 win in Braga, although the statistics showed that Cluj only had 3 shots in the entire game while the Portuguese side had almost 40. Cluj have now won all 5 games they have played in this competition this season, although they had only won 1 in 6 at home in the Champions League before this season.
Manchester United
The poor performances that Manchester United opened the season with had not cost them too many points in the Premier League, but it finally caught up with the side on Saturday as they were beaten 2-3 by Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. United are still in touch with Chelsea at the top of the League, but Sir Alex Ferguson would have been furious with his side and their sloppiness that left them 0-2 down at half time.
United have won 6 in a row in all competitions but those results have been bookended by defeats to Everton and Spurs. The team have at least won their last 2 away games, both in the Premier League, and have won 3 of 4 on their travels going back to the last day of last season.
There is still some wounds to be healed for United after a terrible Champions League campaign last season, but the 1-0 win over Galatasaray at Old Trafford has at least got this Group off to the right start. The team lost in Basel last season, but they had previously lost just 1 of 25 away games in this competition.
Nemanja Vidic, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling are definitely ruled out, but Jonny Evans should be fit to start despite hobbling off at the end of the game on Saturday. Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick both missed training on Monday so could be doubtful for this game, while Ashley Young is probably not going to return until after the international break.
Head to Head
This will be the first team Cluj and Manchester United are meeting in a competitive game, although both have faced teams from England and Romania respectively in recent seasons of the Champions League.
Cluj drew 0-0 with Chelsea here in 2008, while Manchester United beat Otelul Galati 0-2 away from home last season.
Prediction
I really don't like the way Manchester United have been defending at the moment as the central midfield are leaving too much space between themselves at the defence, areas that Cluj could exploit if they are as devastating on the counter attack as they were against Braga in their opening game of the Group.
However, I have a feeling the home side may be a little overawed by facing Manchester United and I imagine they will want to keep things tight and not let the game get out of hand early.
Cluj have faced some big name teams here before, but the side haven't been in the Champions League for a couple of seasons so there is sure to be some excitement that a club of the stature of United is coming to town.
The odds on the away win do look short to me, but I do feel United will have a little more 'know-how' than their hosts and I fancy them to get the job done. However, I do believe a Cluj goal may be enough to see them actually hurt the odds on quote for the United win.
A quick look through the results show that Cluj failed to score against Bayern Munich and Chelsea, the two biggest names they have faced at home, while United did have 7 clean sheets in 8 away games in the Champions League before their embarrassing exit at Basel. That run included a visit to Romania when facing Otelul Galati and I do think the 2.75 on offer for a United win with a clean sheet looks a little big to me.
I know I have been critical of the defending of late, so I imagine Cluj may get a couple of chances, but United did have 2 clean sheets in 3 games before the loss on Saturday and I do feel Cluj may spend more time looking to avoid defeat in this one than going for the win.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
CFR Cluj 0-2 Manchester United
