FC Astana vs CFR Cluj Predictions

Romanian champions Cluj are facing up to a big month, as they kick off their campaigns in the league and Champions League. They are making the trip to Kazakhstan as they prepare to face off with Astana on Tuesday. Which of these two sides will secure their place in the next round of qualifying? Can Cluj get a vital advantage on the road this week, or will we see the Kazakh side get a result to hold on to as they go chasing a place in the group stage?

The hosts are on for their sixth straight title in the Kazakhstan Premier League, which would be a new record. They’ve become the dominant force in their domestic league, but how will that translate to European football this season? The hosts have been regulars in European football in the Autumn, making the group stage of one of Europe’s two competitions for the last four seasons. They broke through in the Champions League in 2015, but can they follow that up by making it into the last 32?

Cluj are currently led by former Chelsea man Dan Petrescu after he returned for a second spell in charge back in March. He’s had 15 different spells as a boss across Eastern Europe and Asia, but his recent success has come with Cluj. They’ve won back to back titles, but they’ve struggled to make a mark on Europe football despite that success. Their best form in recent years came in 2012/13 when they made the Champions League group stage and managed to beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. However, things have been tough since.

Cluj have won just three of 12 matches in Europe since the start of 2013. They went out of this competition when they met Malmo in 2018, losing 1-0 at home. They went on to lose in the Europa League qualifiers too, going out to Luxembourg’s Dudelange after losing home and away. With those struggles behind them, can they really pull off a result in this week’s clash in Kazakhstan?

The hosts have won five of their last seven home European games, while they’ve built up some great form overall here in Europe. In qualifying games, they’ve lost one of their last 13 at home, while they’ve won 10 games and drawn two in that time. Astana have won four of their last five Champions League games here, while they’ve got half-way through their league campaign, while Cluj are just coming back to fitness. That should help Astana edge it, so we see them as great value.