Sivasspor vs CFR Cluj prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-10-26 19:00.
Sivasspor got their revenge after losing at home to Ballkani on matchday three, winning 2-1 in Kosovo to go top of UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) Group G by virtue of H2H points. Another victory assures progression for the Turks – and it would also ensure first place if Slavia Prague and Ballkani were to draw in the other matchday five clash.
Although the first meeting with Ballkani came as a shock, home advantage will still be crucial here at the 27,532-capacity Sivas Stadium. Encouragingly for Sivasspor, they’ve never failed to net in a UECL home game (W1, D1, L3 – 90 min), but with goals conceded from the 60th minute onwards in each defeat, nerves may grow as time elapses.
That will most certainly be the case if Sivasspor trail late on, as Cluj need only to win by a two-goal margin to seal qualification in their hosts’ stead, and add to the joy of their weekend derby victory against Universitatea Cluj. Successive victories over Slavia – each coming after a 1-0 half-time lead – have turned their fortunes around, as the Romanian side seek to reach a European knockout stage for the first time in three years.
Impressively, Cluj are still unbeaten in UECL away games this year (W1, D4), despite never scoring more than once, demonstrating good self-preservation. Part of that streak also helps form an even better trend, where Cluj have conceded first in just one of their nine competitive away games played since the start of August, further illustrating their defensive resilience.
Players to watch: Sivasspor forward Karol Angielski’s late strike clinched it against Ballkani on matchday four, while Rangelo Janga netted the winner in Cluj’s last European away game a week prior, making two of his last three away goals decisive openers.
Hot stat: None of Cluj’s previous 11 UECL games have seen both teams score in a match producing 3+ total goals.