2022–23 CFR Cluj season

The 2022–23 CFR Cluj season is the club's 115th season in existence and the 19th consecutive season in the top flight of Romanian football. In addition to the domestic league, CFR Cluj are participating in this season's edition of the Cupa României, the Supercupa României, the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa Conference League. The season covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

CFR Cluj
2022–23 season
OwnerIoan Varga
ChairmanCristian Balaj
ManagerDan Petrescu
StadiumStadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Liga I2nd
Cupa RomânieiGroup stage
Supercupa RomânieiRunners-up
UEFA Champions LeagueFirst qualifying round
UEFA Europa Conference LeagueKnockout round play-offs
Top goalscorerLeague:
Cephas Malele
Karlo Muhar
(4 each)

All:
Ciprian Deac
Rangelo Janga
Cephas Malele
(5 each)
2023–24 →
All statistics correct as of 23 February 2023.

Players

First-team squad

As of 20 October 2022[1][2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
28MF  ROUOvidiu Hoban (4th captain)
30FW  ROUDaniel Bîrligea
32FW  CUWRangelo Janga
33DF  CRODenis Kolinger (on loan from Vejle)
34GK  ROUCristian Bălgrădean
37MF  ROUMihai Bordeianu
40MF  CROLovro Cvek
44DF  BRAYuri Matias
45DF  ROUMário Camora (Captain)
47DF  GERChristopher Braun
73MF  CROKarlo Muhar
75MF  ROUAdrian Gîdea
76MF  ROUTudor Lucaci
90GK  ROURăzvan Sava
92DF  SENIbrahima Mbaye
94MF  ROUCătălin Itu
99FW  ROUSergiu Buș

Other players under contract

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  ROUAdrian Păun (to Hapoel Be'er Sheva)
MF  ROUSergiu Luca (to Gloria Bistrița)
MF  CIVRicky Gnéba (to Minaur Baia Mare)
FW  CIVKevin Bakare (to Minaur Baia Mare)
FW  MDAGheorghe Gondiu (to CSM Sighetu Marmației)

Pre-season and friendlies

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

v CFR Cluj
18 June 2022 Friendly Koper 0–2 CFR Cluj Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
17:30 CEST (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Stadion Gornja Radgona
v CFR Cluj
21 June 2022 Friendly Napredak Kruševac 0–3 CFR Cluj Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)ReportStadium: Stadion Gornja Radgona
v CFR Cluj
24 June 2022 Friendly Partizan 0–1 CFR Cluj Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
17:30 CEST (UTC+2)ReportStadium: Stadion Gornja Radgona
v CFR Cluj
25 June 2022 Friendly Hajduk Split 0–2 CFR Cluj Dietersdorf bei Fürstenfeld, Austria
18:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Sportplatz Dietersdorf
Referee: Michael Steindl
v CFR Cluj
11 January 2023 Friendly Holstein Kiel 1–1 CFR Cluj Oliva, Spain
15:15 CET (UTC+1)Stadium: Oliva Nova Golf & Beach Resort Campo 1

Competitions

Overview

CompetitionFirst matchLast matchStarting roundFinal positionRecord
PldWDLGFGAGDWin %
Liga I16 July 2022May 2023Matchday 12617274123+18065.38
Cupa României10 November 2022Group stage101011+0000.00
Supercupa României9 July 2022Final100112−1000.00
UEFA Champions League5 July 202213 July 2022First qualifying roundFirst qualifying round202022+0000.00
UEFA Europa Conference League21 July 202223 February 2023Second qualifying round14653117+4042.86
Total442310115635+21052.27

Last updated: 23 February 2023
Source: Soccerway

Liga I

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
1510142615 +1131702188 +1031287 +1

Last updated: 7 November 2022.
Source: Liga 1

Results by round

Round123456789101112131415161718
GroundHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHA
ResultWLWWLPLWPWWWDWWLW
Position595147106754433333
Updated to match(es) played on 7 November 2022. Source: Liga 1
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Regular season

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Farul Constanța3019745428+2664Qualification for the Play-off round
2CFR Cluj3020375428+2663
3FCSB3017675135+1657
4Universitatea Craiova3016683727+1054
5Rapid București3015784026+1452
Source: LPF (in Romanian) Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Play-off.[3]
Matches

The league fixtures were announced on 1 July 2022.[4]

24 July 2022 2 FC U Craiova 1948 3–1 CFR Cluj Craiova
16:00 EEST (UTC+3)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Ion Oblemenco
Referee: Andrei Chivulete
30 July 2022 3 CFR Cluj 4–2 Mioveni Cluj-Napoca
21:30 EEST (UTC+3)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Bogdan Dumitrache
7 August 2022 4 Chindia Târgoviște 0–2 CFR Cluj Ploiești
18:30 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Ilie Oană
Referee: Iulian Călin
14 August 2022 5 CFR Cluj 0–1 Botoșani Cluj-Napoca
18:30 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: George Găman
28 August 2022 7 CFR Cluj 1–3 Farul Constanța Cluj-Napoca
18:30 EEST (UTC+3)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Radu Petrescu
31 August 2022 8 CFR Cluj 4–0 Voluntari Cluj-Napoca
19:15 EEST (UTC+3)ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Horia Mladinovici
11 September 2022 10 CFR Cluj 2–0 Universitatea Craiova Cluj-Napoca
21:30 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Andrei Chivulete
19 September 2022 11 Argeș Pitești 0–1 CFR Cluj Pitești
20:30 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Nicolae Dobrin
Referee: Marcel Bîrsan
1 October 2022 12 CFR Cluj 1–0 Petrolul Ploiești Cluj-Napoca
21:30 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Cătălin Popa
10 October 2022 13 UTA Arad 1–1 CFR Cluj Arad
20:30 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Francisc von Neuman
Referee: Ionuţ Coza
17 October 2022 14 CFR Cluj 2–1 Sepsi OSK Cluj-Napoca
21:00 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: István Kovács
23 October 2022 15 Universitatea Cluj 1–2 CFR Cluj Cluj-Napoca
21:00 EEST (UTC+3)
Report
Stadium: Cluj Arena
Referee: Radu Petrescu
30 October 2022 16 Rapid București 2–1 CFR Cluj Bucharest
21:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Superbet Arena-Giulești
Referee: Cătălin Popa
7 November 2022 17 CFR Cluj 3–1 FC U Craiova 1948 Cluj-Napoca
21:00 EET (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Florin Andrei
13 November 2022 18 Mioveni 0–1 CFR Cluj Mioveni
18:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Orășenesc
Referee: Horia Mladinovici
30 November 2022 6 Hermannstadt 2–3 CFR Cluj Mediaș
19:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Municipal Gaz Metan
Referee: Andrei Moroiță
4 December 2022 19 CFR Cluj 2–0 Chindia Târgoviște Cluj-Napoca
15:30 EET (UTC+2)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Marian Barbu
11 December 2022 20 Botoșani 1–1 CFR Cluj Botoșani
17:30 EET (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Municipal
Referee: Szabolcs Kovacs
15 December 2022 9 FCSB 0–1 CFR Cluj Bucharest
20:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Arena Națională
Referee: István Kovács
20 December 2022 21 CFR Cluj 0–1 Hermannstadt Cluj-Napoca
20:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Andrei Chivulete
23 January 2023 22 Farul Constanța 0–3 CFR Cluj Ovidiu
20:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Central Stadium
Referee: István Kovács
30 January 2023 23 Voluntari 0–1 CFR Cluj Voluntari
20:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Anghel Iordănescu
Referee: Adrian Cojocaru
5 February 2023 24 CFR Cluj 0–1 FCSB Cluj-Napoca
21:00 EET (UTC+2)ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Sebastian Colțescu
11 February 2023 25 Universitatea Craiova 2–0 CFR Cluj Craiova
20:00 EET (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Ion Oblemenco
Referee: Marcel Bîrsan
19 February 2023 26 CFR Cluj 3–1 Argeș Pitești Cluj-Napoca
17:00 EET (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Viorel Flueran
27 February 2023 27 Petrolul Ploiești 2–5 CFR Cluj Ploiești
20:00 EET (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Ilie Oană
Referee: George Găman
2 March 2023 28 CFR Cluj 2–1 UTA Arad Cluj-Napoca
17:00 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Lucian Rusandu
6 March 2023 29 Sepsi OSK 2–2 CFR Cluj Sfântu Gheorghe
20:30 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Sepsi Arena Stadium
Referee: Sebastian Colțescu
13 March 2023 30 CFR Cluj 4–0 Universitatea Cluj Cluj-Napoca
20:30 EET (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Marcel Bîrsan

Play-off round

Table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualificationFARFCSCFRCRARAPSPS
1Farul Constanța (C)106312213+953Qualification to Champions League first qualifying round3–21–03–27–22–1
2FCSB105231515046Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round2–11–01–11–53–1
3CFR Cluj (O)102441114−342Qualification to European competition play-offs1–21–11–12–22–1
4Universitatea Craiova103431514+1401–11–21–13–10–1
5Rapid București103341720−3381–11–03–12–30–0
6Sepsi OSK[a]102261014−429Qualification to Europa Conference League second qualifying round1–11–21–21–22–0
Source: Soccerway, FRF (in Romanian), LPF (in Romanian)
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points without rounding; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Play-off (only if needed to decide champion or teams for UEFA competitions). (Note: only criteria 6 and 7 are applied to establish the classification during the competition.)[5]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners
Notes:
Matches
19 March 2023 1 CFR Cluj 2–2 Rapid București Cluj-Napoca
19:00 EET (UTC+2)
Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Andrei Chivulete
2 April 2023 2 Universitatea Craiova 1–1 CFR Cluj Craiova
21:00 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Ion Oblemenco
Referee: István Kovács
9 April 2023 3 CFR Cluj 1–1 FCSB Cluj-Napoca
21:00 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Radu Petrescu
15 April 2023 4 CFR Cluj 2–1 Sepsi OSK Cluj-Napoca
19:00 EEST (UTC+3)ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Iulian Călin
22 April 2023 5 Farul Constanța 1–0 CFR Cluj Ovidiu
20:30 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Central Stadium
Referee: Sebastian Colțescu
1 May 2023 6 Rapid București 3–1 CFR Cluj Bucharest
20:30 EEST (UTC+3)
Report
Stadium: Superbet Arena-Giulești
Referee: Marcel Bîrsan
14 May 2023 8 FCSB 1–0 CFR Cluj Bucharest
21:00 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Arena Națională
Referee: Sebastian Colțescu
20 May 2023 9 Sepsi OSK 1–2 CFR Cluj Sfântu Gheorghe
20:30 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Sepsi Arena Stadium
Referee: Adrian Costreie
28 May 2023 10 CFR Cluj 1–2 Farul Constanța Cluj-Napoca
21:00 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Marcel Bîrsan

Cupa României

Group stage

20 October 2022 1 Universitatea Cluj 1–1 CFR Cluj Cluj-Napoca
21:00 EEST (UTC+3)
Stadium: Cluj Arena
10 November 2022 2 Dumbrăvița 0–5 CFR Cluj Cluj-Napoca
18:15 EET (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Referee: Robert Avram
7 December 2022 3 Farul Constanța v CFR Cluj TBD
--:-- EET (UTC+2)

Supercupa României

9 July 2022 Final CFR Cluj 1–2 Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe Arad
20:30 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Francisc von Neuman
Attendance: 10,571
Referee: Adrian Cojocaru

UEFA Champions League

First qualifying round

v Pyunik
13 July 2022 Second leg CFR Cluj 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(2–2 agg.)
(3–4 p)
Pyunik Cluj-Napoca, Romania
21:30 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 7,017
Referee: Michael Fabbri (Italy)
Penalties

UEFA Europa Conference League

Second qualifying round

v Inter Club d'Escaldes
21 July 2022 First leg CFR Cluj 3–0 Inter Club d'Escaldes Cluj-Napoca, Romania
20:30 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 4,421
Referee: Alex Troleis (Faroe Islands)
v CFR Cluj
27 July 2022 Second leg Inter Club d'Escaldes 1–1
(1–4 agg.)
CFR Cluj Andorra la Vella, Andorra
19:00 CEST (UTC+2)
  • Soldevila 21'
Report
Stadium: Estadi Comunal
Attendance: 242
Referee: Kristoffer Hagenes (Norway)

Third qualifying round

v CFR Cluj
4 August 2022 First leg Shakhtyor Soligorsk 0–0 CFR Cluj Adapazarı, Turkey
20:00 TRT (UTC+3)ReportStadium: New Sakarya Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ioannis Papadopoulos (Greece)
Note: Due to the country's involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belarusian teams were required to play their home matches at neutral venues and behind closed doors until further notice.[6]
v Shakhtyor Soligorsk
11 August 2022 Second leg CFR Cluj 1–0
(1–0 agg.)
Shakhtyor Soligorsk Cluj-Napoca, Romania
20:00 EEST (UTC+3)ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 6,700
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)

Play-off round

v CFR Cluj
18 August 2022 First leg Maribor 0–0 CFR Cluj Maribor, Slovenia
20:15 CEST (UTC+2)ReportStadium: Ljudski vrt
Attendance: 4,500
Referee: Pavel Orel (Czech Republic)
v Maribor
25 August 2022 Second leg CFR Cluj 1–0
(1–0 agg.)
Maribor Cluj-Napoca, Romania
20:00 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 9,852
Referee: John Beaton (Scotland)

Group stage

The draw for the group stage was held on 26 August 2022.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification SIV CLJ SLP BLK
1 Sivasspor6321117+411Advance to round of 163–01–13–4
2 CFR Cluj631255010Advance to knockout round play-offs0–12–01–0
3 Slavia Prague622267−181–10–13–2
4 Ballkani6114811−341–21–10–1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
v CFR Cluj
8 September 2022 1 Ballkani 1–1 CFR Cluj Pristina
18:45 CEST (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Fadil Vokrri Stadium
Attendance: 5,673
Referee: Urs Schnyder (Switzerland)
Note: Ballkani played their home matches at Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, instead of their regular stadium, Suva Reka City Stadium, Suhareka, which did not meet UEFA requirements.
v Sivasspor
15 September 2022 2 CFR Cluj 0–1 Sivasspor Cluj-Napoca, Romania
19:45 EEST (UTC+3)Report
Stadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 7,026
Referee: Allard Lindhout (Netherlands)
v CFR Cluj
6 October 2022 3 Slavia Prague 0–1 CFR Cluj Prague, Czech Republic
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)Report
Stadium: Fortuna Arena
Attendance: 18,271
Referee: Fabio Maresca (Italy)
v Slavia Prague
13 October 2022 4 CFR Cluj 2–0 Slavia Prague Cluj-Napoca, Romania
19:45 EEST (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 11,218
Referee: Luís Godinho (Portugal)
v CFR Cluj
27 October 2022 5 Sivasspor 3–0 CFR Cluj Sivas, Turkey
22:00 TRT (UTC+3)
ReportStadium: New Sivas 4 Eylül Stadium
Attendance: 6,050
Referee: Rohit Saggi (Norway)
v Ballkani
3 November 2022 6 CFR Cluj 1–0 Ballkani Cluj-Napoca, Romania
19:45 EET (UTC+2)ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu
Attendance: 11,723
Referee: Daniel Schlager (Germany)

Knockout phase

Knockout round play-offs

The draw for the knockout round play-offs was held on 7 November 2022.

v CFR Cluj
16 February 2023 First leg Lazio 1–0 CFR Cluj Rome, Italy
21:00 CET (UTC+1)
ReportStadium: Stadio Olimpico
Referee: Craig Pawson (England)
v Lazio
23 February 2023 Second leg CFR Cluj 0–0
(0–1 agg.)
Lazio Cluj-Napoca, Romania
19:45 EET (UTC+2)ReportStadium: Stadionul Dr. Constantin Rădulescu

References