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Pyunik FC will entertain CFR Cluj at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in the first leg tie of the UEFA Champions League first-round qualifying fixtures on Tuesday.
The hosts have reached the qualification phase of the Champions League for the first time since the 2015-16 season. They have never made it to the group stage. On the other hand, CFR Cluj have made it to the qualifiers for the last four seasons. They have not qualified for the group stage since the 2012-13 season.
Pyunik won the Armenian Premier League in the 2021-22 season to secure a date against Cluj, who won the Romanian Liga I last season.
Pyunik vs CFR Cluj Head-to-Head
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides. This will be the hosts' first competitive game against a Romanian side, while Cluj has faced Armenian opposition twice.
Both meetings came against Alashkert FC in the third round qualifying fixture for the 2018-19 edition of the UEFA Europa League. CFR Cluj recorded wins in both legs and kept a clean sheet in both games.
Pyunik form guide (all competitions): Have not played a game since the conclusion of the 2021-22 season.
CFR Cluj form guide (Pre-season friendlies): W-W-W-W-D
Pyunik vs CFR Cluj Team News
Pyunik
Ակադեմիա Akademiya or The Academy did not report any injuries ahead of the game. They also do not have any pending suspensions at the moment. They have parted ways with striker Hugo Firmino, which will be a blow for them in this two-legged tie.
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
CFR Cluj
Only Daniel Birligea is expected to be sidelined for the first leg with an injury for Ceferiștii.
Injured: Daniel Birligea
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Pyunik vs CFR Cluj Predicted XIs
Pyunik (4-3-3): David Yurchenko (GK); Zoran Gajić, Mikhail Kovalenko, Alexander González, Robert Demirchyan; Leao Lima Andre Luiz, Artak Dashyan, Hovhannes Harutyunyan; Yusuf Otubanjo, Luka Juričić, Nemanja Mladenovic
CFR Cluj (4-4-2): Razvan Sava (GK); Karlo Bručić, Andrei Burcă, Cristian Manea, Danijel Graovac; Roger, Ciprian Deac, Claudiu Petrila, Lovro Cvek; Marko Dugandžić, Constantin Păun
$1,100 First Bet Insurance at Caesars
Pyunik vs CFR Cluj Prediction
CFR Cluj have a better record in the qualifiers of the Champions League and will be hoping to kick off their campaign with a win. Pyunik have not played a game since the end of the 2021-22 campaign, and this lack of warm-up games might prove to be their undoing here. We back Cluj to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Pyunik 1-2 CFR Cluj.
