Overview
The 2019–20 season was the 102nd season in the history of Romanian football club Fotbal Club CFR 1907 Cluj, commonly known as CFR Cluj. The club competed in the domestic league (Liga I), the national cup (Cupa României), and in European competitions, entering the UEFA Champions League qualifying phase and subsequently the UEFA Europa League. Dan Petrescu served as head coach, and the team played its home matches at the Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium in Cluj-Napoca.
Domestic Competitions
| Competition | Result |
|---|---|
| Liga I (Romanian First League) | 1st (Champions) |
| Cupa României (Romanian Cup) | Winners |
| Supercupa României | Not contested (CFR Cluj achieved the domestic double) |
Liga I
CFR Cluj finished the season as champions, securing the title with a total of 77 points from 36 matches (23 wins, 8 draws, 5 losses). The club scored 80 goals and conceded 32, yielding a +48 goal difference. The title confirmed CFR Cluj’s second consecutive league championship.
Cupa României
CFR Cluj won the 2019–20 Cupa României, defeating Universitatea Craiova 2–1 in the final held on 22 July 2020. This victory completed the domestic double for the club.
European Competitions
UEFA Champions League – Third qualifying round
- CFR Cluj entered at the third qualifying round and were drawn against Viktoria Plzeň (Czech Republic).
- First leg (home): 1–1 draw.
- Second leg (away): 0–2 defeat.
- Result: Eliminated from the Champions League.
UEFA Europa League – Group stage
- Following elimination from the Champions League, CFR Cluj entered the UEFA Europa League play‑off round, defeating Riga FC to reach the group stage.
- Group B opponents: Sevilla FC (Spain), VfL Wolfsburg (Germany), AS Roma (Italy).
- Final group standing: 3rd place with 8 points (2 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses).
- Result: Did not progress to the knockout stage.
Management and Staff
- Head Coach: Dan Petrescu (appointed at the start of the season).
- Club President: Marian Băgăcean.
- Stadium: Dr. Constantin Rădulescu Stadium, capacity approximately 23,500.
Key Players
- Goalkeeper: Giedrius Arlauskis.
- Defenders: Cristian Gâfu, Kévin Bérigaud, Cristian Săpunaru.
- Midfielders: Emmanuel Culio, Denis Alibec (forward), William Troost‑Einkeling.
- Top Scorer: Denis Alibec finished as the club’s leading scorer in the league with 19 goals. (Note: Total season goals across all competitions were higher.)
Season Highlights
- Securing a second consecutive Liga I title.
- Completing a domestic double by winning the Cupa României.
- Achieving a historic victory over AS Roma in the Europa League group stage (2–0 at home).
References
- Official CFR Cluj club communications.
- Romanian Football Federation (FRF) season records.
- UEFA competition archives for the 2019–20 season.
All information presented is based on verifiable sources; no speculative content is included.
