The students from Cluj, Universitatea, arrive in Miercurea Ciuc on Saturday afternoon. Róbert Ilyés’s team is unbeaten in four matches, but still searching for their first victory.
The students from Cluj, Universitatea, arrive in Miercurea Ciuc on Saturday afternoon. Róbert Ilyés’s team is unbeaten in four matches, but still searching for their first victory.
For the “Red Caps,” the Miercurea Ciuc stadium has never been a happy hunting ground: Universitatea have never managed to beat us here, and all our encounters so far took place at this venue back in the second division. FK recorded two wins and a draw: the first meeting on September 27, 2019 ended 1–1, followed by a 2–1 win on November 26, 2020, and a 3–1 home victory on September 13, 2021.
Of course, these results are not decisive indicators, since this is the Superliga, where the guests have been competing since the 2022–2023 season, having gathered three more years of top-flight experience than us. Still, Universitatea is not exactly a newcomer in Romanian football: the club was founded in 1919 and has gone through several crises – financial troubles, reorganizations, and even bankruptcy in 2016. A new entity was created then, reviving the original traditions. In the 2024–25 season, they finished 4th in the 16-team Superliga, and this year they also took part in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers. Their greatest achievement remains winning the Romanian Cup in the 1964–65 season, defeating Dinamo Pitești 2–1 in the final. They also played five more finals but could not add another trophy.
Saturday’s clash is not only a sporting event but also one with social significance. Statistics are in FK’s favor so far, which could provide a psychological advantage. For Universitatea, however, this is a prestige match: their league performances have been inconsistent, and the pressure is on them to prove themselves. The atmosphere will be accompanied by heightened police presence and security measures, as supporters and ultras will be closely watched.
We count on fair play, respectful support, and an atmosphere free of provocation. FK supporters are expected to fill the stadium once again, guaranteeing an unforgettable atmosphere and providing a real boost of energy to the players. The home advantage and crowd encouragement could play a decisive role. Step by step, our team’s play is rising to Superliga standards, with players eager for success and determined to secure the long-awaited three points against Universitatea Cluj.
Head coach Róbert Ilyés shares the same view, stating at the pre-match press conference: “We are coming from an away match where we managed to snatch a point against a team that nobody had beaten before, which is encouraging for us. There are still aspects of our game to improve, but I believe we prepared well this week and are looking forward to the match against Cluj to prove ourselves with good football.”
The match kicks off on Saturday at 15:00 and will be broadcast as usual on Digisport 1 and Prima Sport 1. The novelty is that it will also be available live with Hungarian commentary on m4sport.hu, while M4 Sport will air the recorded game at 23:45 Székelyföld time.
The stadium ticket office opens on Saturday at 13:00, where tickets can still be purchased for the match.
R. A.
File photo: Zoltán Pál