Astana went top of the Kazakhstan league on Friday courtesy of a 2 – 0 win over Tobol and this is what they will want to carry to their next game, when they start their Champions League journey against Romanian side Cluj, and they will have the advantage of having played more competitive matches ahead of this clash. Astana have three wins in their last five outings and the same in 10 matches ahead of this game. They have five wins in 15 and two in their last five at home. In their last three Champions League matches, Astana have scored no goal but in the 14 Champions League matches played at home, they have lost just one. On the other hand, Cluj’s matches lately, have been friendly games and they go to this clash straight after a loss to Viitorul in the Romanian Super Cup. After that slip they will be hoping to recover in this Champions League clash before embarking on domestic action. Cluj have three wins in their last five matches and seven wins in 10. Of the last 10 matches, five have been competitive, with only three producing wins. In their last 10 away matches, they have five wins but in the Champions League Cluj have no win in their last two matches, while they have two wins in their last seven Champions League matches. They are unbeaten in six away matches in the Champions League and have managed just two clean sheets in the last 12 away Champions League matches.
Cluj have not lost in the last six away Champions League matches, but here they meet an Astana side with just a loss in 14 Champions League. With Astana having played a lot more competitively of late, we believe they will be the fitter side and we’ll thus go with a win for them.
Astana went top of the Kazakhstan league on Friday courtesy of a 2 – 0 win over Tobol and this is what they will want to carry to their next game, when they start their Champions League journey against Romanian side Cluj, and they will have the advantage of having played more competitive matches ahead of this clash. Astana have three wins in their last five outings and the same in 10 matches ahead of this game. They have five wins in 15 and two in their last five at home. In their last three Champions League matches, Astana have scored no goal but in the 14 Champions League matches played at home, they have lost just one. On the other hand, Cluj’s matches lately, have been friendly games and they go to this clash straight after a loss to Viitorul in the Romanian Super Cup. After that slip they will be hoping to recover in this Champions League clash before embarking on domestic action. Cluj have three wins in their last five matches and seven wins in 10. Of the last 10 matches, five have been competitive, with only three producing wins. In their last 10 away matches, they have five wins but in the Champions League Cluj have no win in their last two matches, while they have two wins in their last seven Champions League matches. They are unbeaten in six away matches in the Champions League and have managed just two clean sheets in the last 12 away Champions League matches.
Cluj have not lost in the last six away Champions League matches, but here they meet an Astana side with just a loss in 14 Champions League. With Astana having played a lot more competitively of late, we believe they will be the fitter side and we’ll thus go with a win for them.