Cluj derby

Cluj derby
CFR fans (top) and Universitatea fans (bottom)
Locale Cluj, Romania
Teams CFR Cluj
Universitatea Cluj
First meeting CFR Cluj 1–3 Universitatea Cluj
1947–48 Divizia A
(7 December 1947)
Latest meeting CFR II Cluj 2–1 Universitatea Cluj
2017-18 Liga III
(10 APRIL 2018)
Statistics
Meetings total 38
Most wins CFR Cluj (17)

The Cluj derby (Romanian: Derbiul Clujului) refers to football matches between CFR Cluj and Universitatea Cluj, the most popular clubs in the Romanian region of Transylvania.

Background and history

Most of Romanian sport media claims that the Cluj derby is an ethnic rivalry between the team of the Hungarian minority, represented by CFR Cluj, and the team of Romanians, which would be Universitatea Cluj.[1] CFR was founded in 1907 as Kolozsvári Vasutas Sport Club ("Cluj Railway Sports Club"), and Universitatea in 1919 under the name of CSU Cluj.

According to journalist Răzvan Toma, the first match between the two teams was played on 13 October 1920, when CFR thrashed Universitatea 8–0 on a field based in the Cluj-Napoca Central Park.[2]

The first Liga I match between CFR and Universitatea took place on 7 December 1947 when Universitatea Cluj won 3–1, obtaining its first victory over CFR Cluj which was playing for the first time in that competition after merging with Ferar Cluj.[3]

Since Universitatea spent most of its history in the top tier of the Romanian football, and CFR in the lower leagues, the rivalry was almost forgotten until the 1970s. CFR earned promotion in Divizia A in 1969 and the two clubs again met. In the first three seasons together in the first division, Universitatea won the most meetings until 1972, when beat 1–0. Since then, though being the underdog in the major part of its history, CFR never lost again to Universitatea. In 1975–76 season, both CFR and Universitatea were relegated to Divizia B. In the two seasons spent in the second tier together, CFR remain undefeated, even in the 1977-78 season, when Universitatea promoted back, while CFR remained in the second division. Since then, for the major part of their histories, Universitatea spent ages in Divizia A, while CFR was a piece between second and third tier.

In 2004, however, CFR again earned promotion in Divizia A and remained undefeated against Universitatea. From then, CFR became one of the most important teams in Romania, winning three league titles (in 2008, 2010 and 2012) and playing in European competitions, most notabilly UEFA Champions League group stages, while Universitatea became the underdog team in Cluj. On 7 May 2008, CFR beat Universitatea, the match having different aftermaths for both teams: while CFR won its first league title, Universitatea relegated to the second division. In 2010–11 season, Universitatea promoted back in Liga I (newly re-branded Divizia A) and finished 8th place, ahead defending champions of Romania, CFR (10th place), but failed to win a match against the former champions. The next season, CFR won its third league title, while Universitatea again finished 8th place. In 2013–14 season, on 24 March 2014, Universitatea beat CFR 2–1, ending a 42-year period without victory against their major rivals, but CFR qualified for UEFA Europa League, while Universitatea avoided relegation.

While financial problems and insolvency struck both clubs as of 2014, CFR remained in the top tier, unlike Universitatea, which relegated from Liga I the next year. In 2016, Universitatea relegated from the second tier, went bankrupt and was refounded in Liga IV.

Head to head results

As of 5 June 2017
Competition Played CFR wins Draws Universitatea wins
Liga I3014115
Liga II2200
Cupa României4031
Total3616146

All matches

  CFR Cluj win   Draw   Universitatea Cluj win

All known meetings, as of 5 June 2017
Date Venue Score Competition
7 December 1947 Ferar 1–3 Divizia A
9 May 1948 Ion Moina 2–4
5 September 1948 Ion Moina 0–1
27 March 1949 Ferar 1–0
8 March 1959 Ion Moina 4–2 Cupa României
18 October 1969 Ion Moina 0–0 Divizia A
28 June 1970 Clujana 1–0
25 October 1970 Clujana 2–1
9 May 1971 Ion Moina 1–1
24 October 1971 Clujana 0–1
3 May 1972 Ion Moina 1–0
22 October 1972 Clujana 2–1
13 May 1973 Ion Moina 2–2
7 October 1973 Ion Moina 2–2
5 May 1974 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 3–3
15 September 1974 Ion Moina 0–0
9 April 1975 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 0–0
28 September 1975 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 0–0
25 April 1976 Ion Moina 0–1
26 September 2003 Ion Moina 0–2 Divizia B
4 April 2004 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 1–0
12 February 2007 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 2–0 Liga I
5 July 2008 Ion Moina 0–1
14 October 2008 Ion Moina 3–3 (pen.) Cupa României
24 September 2010 Ion Moina 1–1 Liga I
14 April 2011 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 1–1
19 November 2011 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 3–1
18 May 2012 Cluj Arena 2–3
24 November 2012 Cluj Arena 1–2
29 May 2013 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 3–1
15 September 2013 Cluj Arena 0–0
24 March 2014 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 1–2
29 September 2014 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 1–0
4 March 2015 Dr. Constantin Rădulescu 0–0 Cupa României
1 April 2015 Cluj Arena 0–0 (pen.)
10 April 2015 Cluj Arena 1–0 Liga I

References

  1. ↑ Derby-ul sociologic "U"-CFR
  2. ↑ "DESTINAȚIE: ROMÂNIA/ U Cluj - CFR 1907, povestea celei mai lungi rivalități din fotbalul românesc" [DESTINATION: ROMANIA/ U Cluj - CFR 1907, the story of the oldest rivalry in Romanian football] (in Romanian). Agerpres. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  3. ↑ "Divizia A Etapa 15 1947-1948 - Romania" [Division A Fixture 15 1947-1948 - Romania] (in Romanian). Romanian Soccer. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
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