Häcken vs CFR Cluj Preview, Prediction and Betting Tips – August 21, 2025

Häcken and CFR Cluj meet on Thursday, August 21, 2025, in the first leg of the Europa Conference League playoff round. Both teams enter the tie looking for stability after mixed results in their domestic seasons and previous European qualifiers.

Form and Recent Results

Häcken earned their place in Europe by lifting the Swedish Cup earlier this year, their fourth triumph since 2016. However, their league form has been underwhelming. They sit in the lower half of the Allsvenskan table and recently suffered a 0-2 defeat to Öster. Across their last ten matches, they have only two wins. On average, Häcken score 1.37 goals and concede 1.74 per game, with almost half of their fixtures seeing both teams on the scoresheet.

CFR Cluj, once dominant in Romania, last won the league in 2022. Since then, they have settled for runners-up finishes and added a domestic cup title. Their current campaign has not started well. They lost the Super Cup 1-2 and have managed just one league victory so far, including a 3-3 draw with Botosani. European competition has also been tough. After getting past Paksi and Lugano, they were knocked out of the Europa League by Braga, losing both legs.

Key Stats and Trends

• Häcken have won only 2 of their last 10 matches

• Average goals per Häcken game: 3.11

• CFR Cluj have just 1 win in their last 8 matches

• This will be the first-ever meeting between the two clubs

Projected Lineups

Häcken: Berisha – Lundqvist, Samuelsson, Lode, Lindberg – Gustafsson, Rygor Jensen, Andersen – Brusberg, Layouni, Svanberg
CFR Cluj: Hindrich – Camora, Sinyan, Bolgado, Abed – Fica, Djokovic, Keita – Nkololo, Postolachi, Korenica

Match Prediction

Neither side arrives in top form, which makes this clash difficult to call. Häcken’s inconsistency has been an issue, but home advantage could play a key role. CFR Cluj’s struggles away from Romania also tilt the balance slightly in the Swedes’ favor.

Prediction: Häcken to win the first leg (odds 2.09).

The Europa Conference League playoff promises to be a close contest, with both sides fighting to keep their European journey alive.