CFR CLUJ

League position: 3rd in Liga 1
Form: D L L W L
Top-scorer: Mario Rondon (6)
Last time out in UEL Group A: Roma 5-0 Cluj

Their season so far: The three-time reigning Romanian champions haven’t had things all their way recently and coach Dan Petrescu cut a frustrated figure in the pre-match build-up.

That was how this Group A preview read before Roma put five past Cluj at the Stadio Olimpico on Matchday 3 and little has changed since.

If anything, Petrescu’s malaise has deepened as he tries to manage a threadbare squad that has been hit hard by coronavirus and injuries.

They did rally to a 2-0 win at Arges in Liga 1 in the immediate aftermath of their Rome mauling, but a 1-0 defeat to Arad at the weekend is another example of the ‘one step forward, two steps back’ campaign Cluj are currently enduring.

In the lead-up to Roma’s convincing victory last time out Petrescu bemoaned the fact he had 15 first-team players available to him and this week he went a step further to throw doubt over whether Cluj would be able to field a team on Thursday.

The former Romania international said he was in need of a miracle to name a healthy squad, one that Petrescu now says is reduced to 14 fully-fit senior players.

He does now have centre-back Andrei Burca back from his bout of coronavirus but - just as Cluj have started to piece their defence back together - experienced duo Ciprian Deac and Ovidiu Hoban have contracted the virus.

All things considered, it will be another uphill task for Cluj but they will at least have the familiarities of the Cluj Stadium as their backdrop - even if they’ve lost their last two at home.

What they've said:

"I pray to have players for the match with Roma, I didn't have them in the last round. I only have 14 outfield players on the UEFA list, there were 15 last time.

“I don't even want to think about any injury or a positive covid test on Tuesday. [If that happens] then I don't think we will show up, we won't have enough players to show up.” - Cluj coach Dan Petrescu

“We’re the reigning champions, we must not find excuses, we’re all valuable players, we know what the coach is asking of us.

"Now we’re all affected, we’re very upset. We and the fans aren't used to losing two consecutive games.” - Cluj midfielder Alexandru Paun