CFR Cluj, under coach Dan Petrescu, dominated the first leg of their Europa League preliminary round tie against Paksi but were held to a goalless draw in Hungary, with the return leg scheduled for July 17 in Cluj. Petrescu expressed frustration over the missed opportunity to capitalize on their control of the match, emphasizing the significant impact of missing key striker Louis Munteanu, Liga I top scorer for the last season. Despite the absence of their leading forward, Petrescu praised the promising debuts of Samake and Gjorgjievski but noted the team’s physical condition needs improvement ahead of the decisive home leg. His remarks underscore the team’s reliance on Munteanu’s goal-scoring prowess, while also highlighting the challenge of progressing in Europe without their main offensive threat[4][1]. This result leaves CFR Cluj with the crucial task of breaking the deadlock at home to ensure advancement in the competition.
