Preview: CFR Cluj vs Alashkert FC – prediction, team news, schedule

CFR Cluj will host Alashkert FC in Romania on Thursday in the second leg of the second round of the Conference League.

The two teams will enter the final leg after a 1-1 draw in Armenia last week.

Game preview

CFR Cluj will go into the home leg of their first European qualifier of the season on Thursday hoping to secure a place in the third round of the Conference League.

They entered this stage by finishing third in the Romanian Superliga in 2025-26, continuing to wait for a first top-flight title from 2022.

After an impressive pre-season, Ceferistii began their new home campaign in mid-July with a trip to Otelul and fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat, before heading to Armenia to face Alashkert in last week’s first leg, where they drew as Andres Sfait equalized early in the second half to draw 1-1.

A first win of the season under new manager Antonio Folha followed on Monday, as they thrashed FC Voluntari 5-0 at home with Andrei Cordea and Stefan Drazic netting before Mario Camora added a fifth late on.

Confident of building on that result and home advantage by coming into the second leg with home advantage, CFR Cluj will bid for a place on Thursday to advance to the third qualifying round.

Their opponents, on the other hand, take the trip with the intention of continuing their run that started in the first round with a victory on the road.

Alashkert FC started the Conference League qualifiers in the first round, following a fourth-place finish in the 2025-26 Armenian Premier League, with Yelimay Semey becoming the first team to stand in their way.

Vahe Gevorgyan’s side won that tournament, drawing 1-1 at home and 2-2 away thanks to his goal last week in extra time before winning on penalties.

Rafael Jesus then put them ahead in the first half of their home leg against CFR Cluj last week, before they were pegged back, meaning FC Alashkert need to come out on top again if they are to make a run for the third qualifying round.

CFR Cluj Conference League form:

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CFR Cluj form (all competitions):

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Alashkert FC Conference League form:

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Alashkert FC form (all competitions):

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Team News

CFR Cluj made extensive changes between last week’s first leg and their league win last week, and Sfait will be fighting for his place after leveling in Armenia and only sitting on the bench against FC Voluntari.

Cordea and Drazic have strong claims to keep their places at the top after hitting the balance sheets each on Monday, and could join Sfait in a new look at the front in the home leg.

Karlu Muhar is still a key player in midfield this season, with Alin Fica and Bruno Costa or Damjan Djokovic possibly joining him.

Alashkert FC may be unchanged from their home leg as there are no competitive matches as their league campaign starts next week.

There is competition for attacking positions, however, with summer signings Domi Jaures Massoumou and Philip Ejike coming off the bench last week.

Raphael Jesus will retain his place after scoring their first goal, while midfielder Karen Nalbandyan scored 14 goals last season.

CFR Cluj likely to start the series:

Valceanu; Kun, Pantalon, Abeid, Rocha; Muhar, Fica, Costa; Cordea, Drazic, Sfait

Alashkert FC may start in the list:

Beglaryan; Terteryan, Cesar, Matyukhin, Hakobyan; Nalbandyan, Piloyan, Sabobo; Farayola, Jesus, Massoumou

We say: CFR Cluj 2-0 Alashkert FC (CFR Cluj won 3-1 on aggregate)

CFR Cluj successfully cruised through the away leg to get a draw, and we’re backing them to take full advantage at home and progress on Thursday after a stunning league win at the weekend.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.