Cluj vs Braga: Resumen

SC Braga secured a vital 2-1 away victory against FC CFR 1907 Cluj in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round on August 7, 2025. The Portuguese visitors demonstrated their European experience at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu, leaving with a crucial advantage before the return leg.

The atmosphere in Cluj-Napoca was electric as Romanian fans filled the stadium with passionate support for the home side. Despite the vociferous backing, it was the visitors who drew first blood when Jean-Baptiste Gorby curled a delightful shot into the bottom corner in the 17th minute following a well-constructed attack. The hosts responded admirably, with Sheriff Sinyan leveling the score in the 29th minute, finishing from close range after Louis Munteanu's cross took a fortunate deflection.

However, Braga reasserted their dominance after the break when Gorby completed his brace, reacting quickest to pounce on a rebound after Otto Hindrich could only parry Fran Navarro's powerful strike. Cluj pushed hard for an equalizer but couldn't break down a resolute Braga defense marshaled by experienced João Moutinho in midfield.

This result puts Braga in a commanding position to progress to the Europa League play-offs, with Dan Petrescu's Cluj now facing an uphill battle in the return fixture in Portugal. The Romanian side will need to produce a significantly improved performance away from home to overturn this deficit and keep their European campaign alive.

"We came here with a clear plan and executed it well despite difficult conditions. Getting an away win in European competition is never easy, and I'm proud of how the team responded after conceding the equalizer. Jean-Baptiste [Gorby] was exceptional today, but this was truly a collective effort. We're only halfway through this tie though – we expect a determined Cluj in Portugal next week," commented Vicens, SC Braga's coach after the match.

"It's disappointing to lose at home, but the tie is far from over," insisted Dan Petrescu. "We had moments where we controlled the game but didn't capitalize. Their experience showed in key moments. The second goal was preventable, which is frustrating. However, we've overcome difficult situations before, and we'll go to Portugal believing we can turn this around."

"Scoring twice away from home is always special, especially in European competition," said Jean-Baptiste Gorby, Braga's match-winner. "The team created good opportunities for me, and I'm happy I could help secure this advantage. We respect Cluj and know the second leg will be another challenge entirely."

"FC CFR 1907 Cluj created enough chances to get a better result," observed Romanian football analyst Victor Pițurcă. "Their problem was clinical finishing and concentration in defense. Braga showed why they're regularly in European competitions – they were ruthlessly efficient with their opportunities."

The statistical breakdown of the FC CFR 1907 Cluj vs SC Braga UEFA Europa League qualifier reveals interesting insights into how the match unfolded. Braga's 2-1 victory came despite Cluj having more possession, with the home side recording 55% compared to the visitors' 45%.

In terms of attempts, Cluj registered 14 shots with 5 on target, while Braga were more clinical with 9 shots total but 6 finding the target – demonstrating their superior efficiency in front of goal. Corner kicks were relatively even with Cluj earning 6 to Braga's 5.

The disciplinary record showed a competitive but fair contest with 3 yellow cards for Cluj (Munteanu, Đoković, and Camora) while Braga received 2 cautions (Niakaté and Moutinho).

Individually, Jean-Baptiste Gorby was the standout performer with 2 goals from 3 shots on target and a passing accuracy of 87%. For Cluj, Sheriff Sinyan not only scored but also won 7 aerial duels, the most of any player on the pitch. João Moutinho controlled the midfield for Braga with 78 touches and a game-high pass completion rate of 92%.

Notably, Cluj's pressing intensity resulted in winning possession in the final third 9 times compared to Braga's 4, but the Portuguese side's defensive organization, with 23 clearances to Cluj's 14, proved crucial in preserving their advantage.

7th minute: Early opportunity for FC CFR 1907 Cluj as Louis Munteanu forced a sharp save from Lukáš Horníček after a swift counter-attack down the right flank.

17th minute: GOAL! SC Braga take the lead through Jean-Baptiste Gorby, who curled a sublime finish into the bottom corner from 18 yards after João Moutinho's clever pass split the Cluj defense.

29th minute: GOAL! Cluj equalize! Sheriff Sinyan reacted quickest in a crowded penalty area to convert Louis Munteanu's deflected cross, sending the home crowd into raptures.

45+2 minutes: Close before halftime as Ricardo Horta's free-kick for Braga struck the crossbar with goalkeeper Otto Hindrich beaten.

50th minute: GOAL! Braga restore their lead! Jean-Baptiste Gorby scores his second, pouncing on the rebound after Hindrich could only parry Fran Navarro's powerful drive.

67th minute: Tactical shift by Dan Petrescu as Cluj moved to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation, bringing on an additional forward in search of an equalizer.

78th minute: Crucial intervention by Braga defender Sikou Niakaté, who produced a goal-saving block to deny Virgiliu Postolachi's goal-bound effort from 12 yards.

89th minute: Last-gasp opportunity for Cluj as Béni Nkololo's header from Camora's cross drifted agonizingly wide of the far post, effectively ending the home side's hopes of salvaging a draw.

The encounter between FC CFR 1907 Cluj and SC Braga represents a rare meeting between Romanian and Portuguese clubs in European competition. Historically, these two sides have crossed paths only once before, during the 2019-20 Europa League group stage, where Braga emerged victorious with a 2-0 win in Portugal before securing a 1-1 draw in Romania.

This latest 2-1 victory extends Braga's unbeaten record against Cluj to three matches, demonstrating their consistent ability to handle the Romanian champions. Portuguese clubs have generally held the upper hand against Romanian opposition in European competitions over the past decade, winning approximately 65% of such encounters.

The individual battle between experienced midfielders Damjan Đoković and João Moutinho proved particularly fascinating. The 38-year-old Moutinho, with his wealth of international experience for Portugal, ultimately controlled the tempo better than his Cluj counterpart, completing 17 more passes and creating two clear chances for his teammates.

Another crucial duel occurred between Cluj's promising forward Louis Munteanu and Braga's center-back pairing of Niakaté and Oliveira. While Munteanu provided the assist for Cluj's goal, he was largely contained thereafter, managing just one shot on target as Braga's defensive organization improved in the second half.

The tactical approach of both managers also told a story: Dan Petrescu's direct, counter-attacking style versus Vicens' more possession-based philosophy. The statistics suggest Braga's technical quality ultimately prevailed despite Cluj's home advantage and passionate support at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu.

In the context of the UEFA Europa League qualification picture, this result significantly impacts both teams' European campaigns. FC CFR 1907 Cluj, currently positioned 5th in the Romanian SuperLiga, are hoping to translate their domestic standing into European progress. However, this home defeat complicates their qualification aspirations.

Meanwhile, SC Braga, who finished 4th in the Portuguese Primeira Liga last season, have strengthened their position to advance to the Europa League play-off round. The Portuguese side's European pedigree is evident as they seek to secure their regular place in the group stages of UEFA competitions.

For Cluj, elimination would mean dropping down to the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, a significant downgrade from their initial European ambitions. Braga, with their 2-1 away victory, have put themselves in an excellent position to continue their pursuit of Europa League group stage qualification, where they've been regular participants in recent seasons.

The aggregate winner of this tie will face one of the losers from the Champions League third qualifying round in the Europa League play-offs, with those fixtures scheduled for late August. Both clubs view European competition as crucial for financial reasons and to attract higher-caliber players, making this qualifying tie particularly important for their respective seasons.