Other names CFR vs. "U" Next meeting 2014 | Locale Cluj, Romania | |
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Teams CFR Cluj and
Universitatea Cluj First meeting Universitatea Cluj 1–3 CFR Cluj
1946–47 Divizia A
(1 December 1946) Latest meeting Universitatea Cluj 1–0 CFR Cluj
2014–15 Liga I
(10 April 2015) | ||
The Cluj Derby (Romanian: Derby-ul Clujului) is a match between the fierce rivals CFR Cluj and "U" Cluj, the biggest and most popular football clubs in the region of Transylvania, in Romania.
Contents
History and context
Most of Romanian sport media claims that Cluj derby is an ethnic derby between the team of the Hungarian community in Cluj, that means to be CFR and team of the majority Romanian community, that means to be "U" Cluj. CFR was founded in 1907 as Kolozsvári Vasutas Sport Club, Hungarian name of Cluj Railway Sports Club, and Universitatea in 1919 under CSU Cluj name.
The first match between CFR and Universitatea took place in 1924, when CSU Cluj beat 2-1, obtaining its first victory over FC Locomotiva Cluj, the re-branded KVSC, and the stadium had to be evacuated because of a large-scale fight between supporters. Since Universitatea spent most of its history in Divizia A, the top tier in Romanian football, and CFR in the lower leagues, the rivalry was forgotten until 70s. 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.
Statistics
As of 14 November 2016Meetings
All-known meetings: