Liam Duckstein
CFR Cluj and Noah meet on July 7 in Bergen at Brann Stadion in what is a neutral-venue friendly during the summer pre-season window. The Romanian side, coached by Jeff Strasser, arrives having played two matches in this friendly tournament, picking up a win and a draw for four points. Noah, the Armenian club under Sandro Perkovic, has played once so far in the competition and sits on just one point after a draw with Mura. The intriguing element here is that CFR Cluj are a significantly better-ranked club on the global scale and arrive in stronger recent form, yet the game takes place away from any home ground for both sides.
One player to keep an eye on from CFR Cluj is whoever Strasser deploys as the attacking focal point, given the club scored twice against Neftci Baku in their last outing. For Noah, their striker who bagged a brace against Aluminij will be worth watching, though that win came against a side ranked well outside the top 1500.
Hot stat: Noah put five past Urartu without reply in their most recent Armenian fixture, showing they can be clinical when facing weaker opposition. CFR Cluj’s last five results include two goalless draws, suggesting their attack can go quiet even against beatable opponents.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026, July Phase |
| 🏟 Venue: | Brann Stadion, Bergen |
| 🗓️ Date: | 07.07.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 14:00 CEST |
CFR Cluj vs Noah Prediction
CFR Cluj are the more accomplished side by a considerable margin in terms of world ranking and competitive pedigree. Their 2026 year-to-date record shows 15 wins from 25 matches at a 60% win rate, compared to Noah’s 16 wins from 27 at 59%. On the surface those numbers look close, but the quality of opposition each side has faced differs sharply.
CFR Cluj’s form over the last 15 matches reads as a competitive, experienced side capable of grinding results. Noah’s recent run includes a 2-0 loss to Koper, a side ranked 291st globally, which raises questions about their defensive consistency against organised opponents. Cluj drew 1-1 with Olimpija Ljubljana in their last friendly outing and won 2-1 against Neftci Baku before that. Those are reasonable results against mid-table European opposition.
We predict a CFR Cluj win, though not by a wide margin. Pre-season friendlies tend to be low-scoring affairs where fitness and experimentation take priority over results. A narrow Cluj victory or a draw seems the most probable outcome, but we lean toward Cluj getting the win given their class advantage.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | CFR Cluj to Win & Under 3.5 Goals |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Under 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Under 9.5 |
Team Analysis
CFR Cluj enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Olimpija Ljubljana on July 5. Before that, they defeated Neftci Baku 2-1 on July 3. Both performances suggest a side that is building match sharpness but not yet at full competitive intensity. Their earlier results in the season included goalless draws with Dinamo Bucuresti and Universitatea Craiova, which points to a team that can be defensively solid but sometimes struggles to break down organised opposition. The 2-1 win over Neftci Baku was an encouraging sign that they can create and convert when the opposition allows space.
Noah’s last match in this friendly tournament was a 1-1 draw with Mura, a Slovenian side ranked 669th globally. Prior to that they beat Aluminij 2-0, though Aluminij sit at 1548th in the world rankings. Their 0-2 defeat to Koper is perhaps the most telling result, coming against a side that is ranked in the top 300. That loss revealed vulnerability when facing technically sound opposition. Their big 5-0 win over Urartu came against a side ranked 4004th, so the context of that result is limited. Noah’s form line shows a team that wins when it should win but concedes against anyone with genuine quality.
🚨Check out our dedicated CFR Cluj vs Noah stats page for more info.
Possible Starting Lineups
CFR Cluj possible starting eleven
- GK: Giedrius Arlauskis
- DF: Mateo Susic, Mihai Popescu, Camora, Luis Aurelio
- MF: Ciprian Deac, Ilie Barbut, Valentin Costache, Kristoffer Klaesson
- FW: Billel Omrani, Lacina Traore
Jeff Strasser is likely to rotate his squad across the pre-season schedule, so expect a blend of experienced starters and fringe players. CFR Cluj typically set up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 shape. Ciprian Deac, the veteran winger, remains a key creative outlet and his delivery from wide areas will be important. Up front, the physical presence of a target striker gives Cluj a direct option. The defensive line has been tested in recent friendlies and will need to remain organised against Noah’s quick transitions.
Noah possible starting eleven
- GK: Daniil Shelekhov
- DF: Hayk Ishkhanyan, Arsen Balabekyan, Gevorg Hovhannisyan, Artur Miranyan
- MF: Tigran Barseghyan, Grigor Meliksetyan, Armen Manucharyan, Narek Grigoryan
- FW: Artak Dashyan, Sargis Adamyan
Sandro Perkovic will likely field a recognisable starting group given Noah are still in the early stages of their pre-season programme. A 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 shape suits the Armenian outfit. Sargis Adamyan, if fit and available, carries the most quality in the forward line and his experience at European level makes him the standout threat. The midfield will need to work hard to limit CFR Cluj’s passing combinations. Noah’s backline will face a stern test and their ability to handle set pieces and crosses will be key.
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Noah. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
TipsGG Match Prediction
CFR Cluj are the superior side on paper and their results across 2026 back that up. With 15 wins from 25 matches and a proven ability to compete in Romanian top-flight football, they carry more quality into this game than Noah, who have been inconsistent when tested by teams outside the bottom tier of the rankings. The neutral venue in Bergen removes any home advantage factor entirely.
We predict a CFR Cluj win, with the match staying under 2.5 goals. Both teams to score is a reasonable call given Cluj’s defensive looseness in friendlies and Noah’s ability to nick a goal on the break. The scoreline of 2-1 to CFR Cluj feels like the most likely outcome. Pre-season matches rarely produce high-scoring affairs, and with both coaches likely to rotate players, the tempo and intensity will not reach competitive levels until the second half at the earliest.
