Regular Season - 7 · 29 August 2026, 17:00 UTC

Universitatea Cluj vs Petrolul Ploiesti Liga I prediction

Cluj Arena, Cluj-Napoca

The model makes it 52% Universitatea Cluj, 28% draw, 20% Petrolul Ploiesti — fair odds of 1.92, 3.57 and 5.00. Fair odds are simply 100 ÷ the probability; they are the model's own number, not a bookmaker's price.

Most likely scoreline: 1-0 (14%).

Expected goals: Universitatea Cluj 1.49, Petrolul Ploiesti 0.82.

Both teams to score: 44%. Over 2.5 goals: 41%, under 2.5: 59%.

Model confidence: High.

Model insights

44%
Both teams to score
41%
Over 2.5 goals
59%
Under 2.5 goals
Most likely scorelines1-0 14%1-1 13%2-0 11%

Form going into this match

Universitatea Cluj

  • W2-1FC Botosani3 August 2026
  • L0-1away to Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe26 July 2026
  • W2-1Farul Constanta19 July 2026

Petrolul Ploiesti

  • W2-1away to FC Voluntari14 August 2026
  • W1-0Oțelul9 August 2026
  • L0-4away to Universitatea Craiova1 August 2026
  • L0-1away to Arges Pitesti24 July 2026
  • W1-0Dinamo Bucuresti19 July 2026

Up to 5 matches before kick-off, most recent first. The model works from each side's rolling expected-goals ratings rather than from these results directly, so read them as context — how the ratings are built.

Liga I table

#TeamPWDLGFGAGDPts
8Universitatea Cluj320143+16
2Petrolul Ploiesti530246-29

Where the two sides stand. Full tables

Head-to-head: Universitatea Cluj vs Petrolul Ploiesti

  • 14 December 2025Petrolul Ploiesti 0–1 Universitatea ClujLiga I
  • 9 August 2025Universitatea Cluj 1–1 Petrolul PloiestiLiga I
  • 14 December 2024Universitatea Cluj 4–1 Petrolul PloiestiLiga I
  • 12 August 2024Petrolul Ploiesti 0–0 Universitatea ClujLiga I
  • 13 April 2024Universitatea Cluj 1–2 Petrolul PloiestiLiga I
  • 11 November 2023Universitatea Cluj 0–0 Petrolul PloiestiLiga I

Two sides the ratings cannot separate

Universitatea Cluj carry a model rating of 6.35 against 6.2 for Petrolul Ploiesti. The scale is anchored so that an average side in one of Europe's big five leagues sits at 6.85, and it is adjusted for the strength of each team's league, so the two numbers are comparable even across borders.

A gap that small is inside the noise of the rating itself — treat the two as level.

Recent form (most recent last): Universitatea Cluj W-L-W; Petrolul Ploiesti W-L-L-W-W.

What the model expects

Under the hood the model expects 1.49 goals for Universitatea Cluj and 0.82 for Petrolul Ploiesti. Those two numbers, not the scoreline, are what the model actually estimates; everything else is derived from them.

Universitatea Cluj rate 0.48 in attack and 1.37 in defence, where 1 is league average and a lower defensive number is better; Petrolul Ploiesti rate 0.43 and 1.64.

That points to 41% for over two and a half goals and 44% for both teams to score.

The three most likely scorelines are 1-0 (14%), 1-1 (13%), 2-0 (11%).

Where the model differs from the table

The table and the model disagree here: the standings favour Petrolul Ploiesti, while our numbers lean the other way. The model weights recent expected goals rather than results already banked, so it moves before the table does.

How this was produced

Publicly tracked record so far: 350 correct results out of 734 settled predictions (48%), with 70 exact scorelines (10%). That log is updated automatically after every match and is never edited.

Full method: how the model works.

Statistical estimate, not betting advice This prediction is generated from a statistical model for entertainment and informational purposes only. It does not guarantee any outcome and should not be used as the basis for placing a bet.

Team comparison

Bars show each side's share of the two-team total, based on the model's attack/defence ratings and expected goals for this fixture.

Why the model favours this side

The model gives Universitatea Cluj the highest probability at 52%, based on each side's rolling attack and defence ratings estimated from recent match data. The model projects 1.49 expected goals for Universitatea Cluj against 0.82 for Petrolul Ploiesti. Universitatea Cluj's attack/defence rating is 0.48/1.37 versus the league average (1.00 = average), compared with 0.43/1.64 for Petrolul Ploiesti.