Braga vs CFR Cluj Prediction 14.08.2025 | UEFA Europa League Qualifiers
Kick off:
Date:
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1.36
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5.14
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9.45
Contents
- Competition: UEFA Europa League - Qualifiers
- Date: Thursday, 14th, August 2025
- Kickoff: 19:30 UK / 20:30 CEST
- Venue: Estadio Municipal de Braga (Braga)
Braga aims to wrap up qualification for the Europa League playoff round as they host CFR Cluj in the second leg at “The Quarry” this Thursday.
The Portuguese outfit moved a step closer to the final qualifying round of the Europa League after edging out a narrow 2-1 victory in last week’s first leg away in Romania, with all the credit for that success going to Gorby, who netted a brace.
vs Head to Head (H2H) stats
-
CFR Cluj
1 : 2
Braga
Europa League
-
CFR Cluj
3 : 1
Braga
Champions League
-
Braga
0 : 2
CFR Cluj
Champions League
These two are no strangers on the European stage, having shared a Champions League group 13 years ago, where CFR Cluj handed Braga back-to-back defeats by 2-0 and 3-1 scorelines – history the Portuguese outfit will be determined to rewrite with a dose of cold revenge.
Braga team overview
Carlos Vicens has wasted no time in making his mark at Braga, bringing renewed confidence and delivering instant results, guiding the side through a challenging pre-season with a perfect return of five victories from five outings.
They may not have sparkled in their first European test, labouring to reach the Europa League third qualifying round after edging past a stubborn Levski Sofia side only in extra time for a narrow 1-0 aggregate win, but Braga soon dispelled any doubts about their true quality.
First, the Archbishops claimed a valuable 2-1 victory on their trip to Romania, before capping off the week in style by sweeping aside Tondela with a commanding 3-0 scoreline to kick-start their Primeira Liga campaign in perfect fashion.
No fresh injuries mean Spanish manager Carlos Vicens is set to name an identical XI to the one that opened the 2025-26 campaign in style, with ex-Barcelona frontman Pau Victor already making an impact and taking up a role in the forward line.
Last matches of
-
CFR Cluj
1 : 2
Braga
Europa League
-
Braga
1 : 0
Levski Sofia
Europa League
-
Levski Sofia
0 : 0
Braga
Europa League
-
Braga
2 : 1
Panathinaikos
Club Friendlies
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Wolfsberger AC
0 : 2
Braga
Club Friendlies
lineup
Goalkeeper
-
1
Lukas Hornicek
Defenders
-
14
Gustaf Lagerbielke
-
4
Sikou Niakaté
-
15
Paulo Oliveira
-
2
Víctor Gómez
Midfielders
-
29
Gorby
-
21
Ricardo Horta
-
8
João Moutinho
Forwards
-
10
Rodrigo Zalazar
-
39
Fran Navarro
-
20
Mario Dorgeles
CFR Cluj team overview
What once promised to be a bright start to the 2025–26 campaign now feels like a distant memory, as CFR Cluj appear unsettled and are struggling for form across all competitions, with three defeats in their last four outings and just one win from the previous six painting a worrying picture ahead of their trip to Portugal.
Discounting their extra-time beating of Lugano in the previous qualifying round, the Railwaymen are now mired in a six-match winless run across all competitions, making it difficult to envisage them posing a genuine threat to Braga in their current state and condition.
Their troubles have been compounded by a poor record on the road, as the Whites and Burgundies remain winless in all four away outings this season and have failed to score in either of their continental visits to Paks and Lugano, each ending goalless.
The Romanian side head into the Quarry well-rested after their scheduled away clash with FK Csikszereda was pushed back, but they remain unable to call on Kenneth Omeruo, Simao Rocha, Karlo Muhar or wide man Mohammed Kamara, all sidelined through injury.
Last matches of
-
CFR Cluj
1 : 2
Braga
Europa League
-
CFR Cluj
2 : 3
U Craiova
Liga 1
-
CFR Cluj
1 : 0
Lugano
Europa League
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CFR Cluj
0 : 2
Argeş
Liga 1
-
Lugano
0 : 0
CFR Cluj
Europa League
lineup
Goalkeeper
-
89
Otto Hindrich
Defenders
-
45
Mário Camora
-
27
Matei Ilie
-
6
Sheriff Sinyan
-
33
Antonio Bosec
Midfielders
-
17
Meriton Korenica
-
80
Damjan Djokovic
-
8
Alin Fică
Forwards
-
93
Virgiliu Postolachi
-
9
Louis Munteanu
-
96
Béni Nkololo
Prediction
On the back of their strong form and squad quality, Braga head into the second leg as clear favourites, with their attacking depth and home advantage putting them in prime position to extend their unbeaten start to the 2025–26 campaign and book a place in the Europa League playoff round. CFR Cluj’s defensive structure has looked disjointed, conceding seven goals in their last four competitive outings, while their attacking threat on the road has been minimal, finding the net just once across their previous three away fixtures. As a result, it is difficult to see the Romanian side mounting a comeback in Portugal, let alone forcing extra time, given their struggles at both ends of the pitch, and we anticipate a cautious, disciplined encounter in which attacking spark will be completely absent.
Three Reasons we expect Under 2.5 Goals
- Braga have kept a clean sheet in all but one of the opening quarter matches of the new season.
- Both of CFR Cluj's European away matches have ended without a winner and without goals.
- CFR Cluj have remained scoreless in three of their last five matches in regular time.
Main prediction -
Under 2.5 goals
Best Odds:
Megapari
2.14
