Preview: CFR Cluj vs. FC Pyunik - prediction, team news, lineups

The winners of this showdown will advance to face either F91 Dudelange or Tirana in the second round later this month.

Match preview

As we have witnessed in a number of first-round qualifying matches this term, European pedigree counts for nothing over the course of 90 minutes, and Cluj found that out the hard way against Pyunik.

Dan Petrescu's side can regularly be found plying their trade in the group stage of one continental tournament or another, but the Romanian champions could not claim a first-leg advantage following a 0-0 draw in Armenia last week.

Returning to home comforts at the Stadionul Dr. Constantin Radulescu, Cluj - who have made it to the Champions League group stages on three occasions, most recently in the 2012-13 season - will endeavour to avoid a first-round qualifying elimination for the first time in their 114-year history.

Several teams involved in first-round qualifying have not had to worry about a domestic fixture being sandwiched in between their two-legged tie, but Cluj were in Romanian Super Cup action at the weekend and lost 2-1 to Sepsi OSK Sf. Gheorghe, which has done nothing to boost the confidence in Petrescu's ranks.

In contrast, Armenian top-flight champions Pyunik have been granted the luxury of a full week's worth of rest before the trip to Romania, where they will aim to reach the second round of Champions League qualifying for the fifth time in a row.

Eghishe Melikyan's defensive formula certainly paid dividends in the first leg, as Pyunik stretched their unbeaten run in all tournaments to 18 matches, and not since 2008-09 have they been sent packing in the first round of qualifying.

By making it to the second hurdle, Pyunik would match their best-ever finish in Europe, although they have already featured in the second round of Champions League qualifying on seven occasions and have failed to progress each time.

Pyunik can take confidence in the fact that they have not failed to score away from home in any tournament since May 2021, but they have only ever won three games on the road in Champions League qualifying and cannot afford to sit back and hold what they have if their continental journey is to continue.

CFR Cluj Champions League form:

CFR Cluj form (all competitions):

FC Pyunik Champions League form:

Team News

Cluj have not suffered any fresh injury blows over the past week, and attacker Roger will be fine to feature despite being sent off four minutes after his introduction in Saturday's Super Cup defeat for violent conduct.

Alexandru Paun was only named on the bench for the first-leg draw, but the attacker can expect to feature in the first XI here after opening the scoring within the first two minutes at the weekend.

Petrescu did not hesitate to rotate for the Super Cup with this encounter in mind, and the hosting manager should recall the likes of Lovro Cvek, Nana Boateng and Denis Kolinger to the first XI on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Pyunik will be forced to cope without centre-back Nikita Baranov as he recovers from surgery, but the visitors should otherwise be working with a fully-fit squad on Wednesday.

Melikyan was not afraid to utilise a five-man defence in the first leg and can be expected to adopt a similar approach here, although David Davidyan's spot on the right is in jeopardy after he was taken off at half time last week.

CFR Cluj possible starting lineup:

Balgradean; Manea, Kolinger, Burca, Camora; Boateng, Cvek; Deac, Paun, Yeboah; Debeljuh

FC Pyunik possible starting lineup:

Yurchenko; Gonzalez, Bratkov, Vakulenko, Kovalenko, Juninho; Davidyan, Cociuc, Zambrano, Dashyan; Otubanjo

We say: CFR Cluj 2-0 FC Pyunik (Cluj win 2-0 on aggregate)

Pyunik's 5-4-1 setup serves them incredibly well defensively, but it is difficult to pinpoint where the goals may come from in the visitors' ranks, in spite of their recent hot streak on the road.

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