Rapid Bucharest vs Cluj Prediction: 20/7/2024

Rapid Bucharest will host Cluj at Stadionul Rapid-Giulești for a Liga I clash on Saturday.

Rapid Bucharest
Form: LLLLWD

Rapid Bucharest comes into this match after a 1-1 draw against UTA Arad in their last Liga I game. During that match, Rapid Bucharest had 50% possession and made 15 attempts on goal, with 6 on target. Christopher Braun scored for Rapid Bucharest in the 23rd minute, while George Cîmpanu equalized for UTA Arad in the 60th minute.

Recently, Rapid Bucharest has struggled defensively, conceding goals in 5 of their last 6 games. However, they have managed to find the net in each of these matches. Their recent form also shows that they have not lost to CFR Cluj in their last 3 league encounters and remain unbeaten in their last 5 home games.

 

CFR Cluj
Form: WWWWWW

CFR Cluj enters this match following a 3-2 victory over Dinamo Bucharest. In that game, Cluj had 48% possession and 17 attempts on goal, with 7 on target. Goals came from Ciprian Deac (42′), Daniel Bîrligea (52′), and Panagiotis Tachtsidis (90′). Dinamo Bucharest’s goals were scored by Cătălin Cîrjan (14′) and Hakim Abdallah (34′).

Cluj has shown a penchant for high-scoring games, with their last six matches seeing 21 goals, averaging 3.5 goals per game. Their defense has conceded 6 goals in these encounters. Despite their strong form, Cluj has not beaten Rapid Bucharest away in their last 7 league matches and are without an away win in their last 2 league games.

 

Head to Head

In their last six head-to-head meetings since March 19, 2023, Rapid Bucharest has won 3 times, Cluj has won 2 times, and there has been 1 draw. These matches have been high-scoring, with a total of 23 goals, averaging 3.83 goals per game. The most recent meeting was a Liga 1 Play-Off match on May 5, 2024, which Cluj won 3-2.

 

Prediction

Both teams are expected to find the net in what promises to be a closely contested match. A draw seems a likely outcome, with a scoreline that reflects the balance between the two sides.

Our prediction is a score draw, with under 3.5 goals in the match.