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Universitatea Cluj will take on Steaua Bucharest at Cluj Arena in a massive game for both sides. While U Cluj is threatened by relegation, Steaua is trying to stay at the top of the Romanian Liga 1. This match has betting value associated, with the odds going up and down due to special circumstances.
Football wise, Steaua is clearly the better team, but the reigning Champions are in horrendous form recently – just 1 point in the last 3 games and a shameful 1-2 home defeat last round to the last placed team in Liga 1, an Otelul Galati side that is close to extinction and won its first game since November 2014. Steaua lost no less than 12 of their 13 point advantage at the top of the table and now have only one point above Targu Mures.
Universitatea Cluj, despite having big financial problems is doing much better right now – winning 4 of the last 5 matches (one was in extra time in the Cup), including the last two. Cluj kept four clean sheets in these previous five matches. The good form allowed the hosts to rise above the relegation zone, but there is no room for error, as they are tied in points with the first relegation spot.
Team news: There are no relevant fresh injuries or suspensions for the hosts, but Steaua Bucharest will miss key players Rusescu and Papp, injured last week against Otelul.
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Leaving football aside, there is massive speculation about Steaua Bucharest players wanting to get rid of their manager, Costel Galca. Now I rarely take such speculations seriously, but the way things are going, this is more of a probability than a possibility. There are a lot of intrigues involved, with the female agent of most Steaua players being married with the ex Steaua coach, who now wants the job back and he will get it if poor Galca gets sacked. In the last two weeks some of the Steaua players partied twice with the ex-coach with music and booze, without Galca, showing lack of professionalism at its finest.
I feel a bit silly talking about these things but it is really unbelievable, these type of amateurish events are rarely seen around a football team. The most important fact, current coach Galca has a clause in his contract that he can be sacked without compensation if the team is not on the first place. If the players want to get rid of him, this is the perfect and only opportunity. There will not be another, as in the next matches Steaua plays against arch rivals Dinamo and than against title rivals Targu Mures.
Looking at the current form of the two teams and the desperation of U Cluj, the hosts can clearly get a result at home based strictly on football reasons. They will have a lot of support in the stands, with the city of Cluj having a huge hate towards Steaua. Cluj is a well organized team, solid in defense, the perfect opponent to frustrate a chaotic side like Steaua is now. However, this is one of the few times in my tipster career when I truly believe that a fixed match is on. Knowing the character and low intelligence of the Steaua players, I would not be surprised at all if they blow another match to bring in their ex-coach and good friend, the grotesque figure of Reghecampf.
I would not take this bet if I didn’t believe Cluj will get at least a draw based strictly on football reasons, but Steaua blowing the match would be a welcome bonus. The bookies opened up with ~ 1.80 for Steaua, but the odds went downhill due to the difference in quality. The bet is well worth high stakes strictly due to medium risk / high reward percentage, but I really do expect Cluj to take something here, most likely a point after a boring draw. My tip is U Cluj +0,5. Prediction: Universitatea Cluj – Steaua Bucharest 0-0.
Pick: U Cluj +0,5
Odds: 2.71 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 15.39
Event date: 25 April
