Cluj can leave Sparta in a spin
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Article summary
CFR 1907 Cluj lost 2-0 at AC Sparta Praha on 22 October, but they can turn the tables on their guests – and move into the qualifying places in UEFA Europa League Group K – with a home win on Matchday 4.
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CFR 1907 Cluj lost 2-0 at AC Sparta Praha last time out, but can turn the tables on their guests – and move into the qualifying places in UEFA Europa League Group K – with a home victory on Matchday 4.
Previous meetings
• The teams met for the first time on Matchday 3, CFR's first encounter with a Czech side. The only previous occasion Sparta visited Romania ended in a 2-2 draw against FC Steaua Bucureşti in the first round of the 1988/89 European Champion Clubs' Cup.
Match background
• CFR have won both of their European home games this season while Sparta have lost two of their last three away matches in continental competition.
• The 2-0 loss at Sparta matched CFR's heaviest margin of defeat in UEFA club competition – a 3-1 loss at RC Lens on 23 August 2005. It was also their biggest loss in the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League.
Team facts
• CFR – whose intials stand for Căile Ferate Române, Romania's national railway – are coached by former SC Braga and FC Porto right-back António Conceição, more widely known as Toni. He led CFR to Romanian Cup success last season.
• Sparta coach Jozef Chovanec represented the club for most of his playing career and began his fourth spell in the dugout this year, while also serving as the club's chairman. He previously coached the Czech national team, leading them to UEFA EURO 2000™ without dropping a point in qualifying.
• CFR were led by Czech coach Aleš Jindra from January to April this year. Jindra and Sparta assistant coach Martin Hašek worked together at second division FK Baník Sokolov last year.
• Romania and the Czech Republic met in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with the Czechs winning 1-0 in Prague on 9 October 2004 but losing 2-0 in the return fixture in Constanta on 3 September 2005.
• Romania and Czechoslovakia met 28 times between 1923 and 1993, with Czechoslovakia winning 16 games to Romania's five and seven ending in draws.
• Sparta visit PSV Eindhoven on Matchday 5, while CFR travel to FC København on the same day, 3 December.