CFR Cluj vs Hacken Prediction & Betting Tips (28 August)

Last round and last play -off games for the qualification for Conference League this Thursday, on the eve of the draw for the C4. The CFR Cluj welcomes Hacken for the return round of this double confrontation. The hosts are well embarked, they who bowed 7-2 to go to Sweden. They will have to catch up with five goals to hope to have a European future. Difficult. Especially since this weekend, Cluj suffered another big defeat in the league against Otelul 4-1 .

Opposite, Hacken therefore took a large option for qualification. And unlike his future opponent, the Swedish club has not lost it this weekend in the league. Rather, he inflicted another beating on Varnamo. Indeed, Hacken won 5-1 in the league where he only sits in 9th place. But its recent dynamics suggests in a good comeback in the classification, and also in a qualification in the final phase of the Europa Conference League.

The tactical battle will hinge on Cluj’s ability to press high and disrupt Häcken’s build-up. Petrescu may opt for a more aggressive approach, knowing that overturning a five-goal deficit is improbable but not impossible. The Romanian side has historically struggled in away fixtures but tends to be more assertive at home. With the crowd behind them and a point to prove, Cluj could find the spark to unsettle the Swedes. Häcken, on the other hand, will likely play conservatively, protecting their aggregate lead while probing for counter-attacking opportunities.

Despite the lopsided first leg, this fixture promises tension and redemption. Cluj’s experience in European qualifiers and their home advantage could tilt the balance slightly in their favor. Häcken’s attacking flair may still find the net, but defensive frailties could be their undoing. With both teams capable of scoring and Cluj desperate to restore dignity, a 2–1 win for the hosts feels like a fitting outcome—enough to reclaim some pride, though not enough to advance.