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Universitatea Craiova will look to take a significant step towards the Europa League league phase when they welcome Ararat-Armenia to the Ion Oblemenco Stadium for the first leg of their playoff tie on Thursday night.
Regardless of the result, both sides are guaranteed league-phase football, with the loser dropping into the Conference League.
Both teams had Champions League ambitions just a couple of weeks ago, but Craiova's hopes ended in the second qualifying round, while Ararat-Armenia were knocked out in the third.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Craiova vs. Ararat-Armenia key stats
- Craiova scored 53 league goals on their way to a fifth Liga I title, the highest total in the division.
- That league title was their first in over 35 years.
- Ararat-Armenia have won the Armenian Premier League in 33.3% of their seasons.
- Tulipa's side lost just three league games all season as they won the Armenian Premier League for the first time since 2020.
Craiova vs. Ararat-Armenia preview: Who will Yerevan with the upper hand in the tie?
Craiova vs. Ararat-Armenia — Tale of the Tape
| Craiova (Romanian Liga I) | vs. | Ararat-Armenia (Armenian Premier League) |
|---|---|---|
| 9th | Position | 2nd |
| 7 | Points | 9 |
| 10 | Goals For | 8 |
| 7 | Goals Against | 4 |
| 2 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 6th / 11th | Home / Away Rank | 3rd / 4th |
Led by Filipe Coelho, Craiova lifted the Liga I title last season after recording 17 wins, nine draws and four defeats from their 30 league matches, finishing with both the best attack and defence in the division.
That success earned them a place in the first round of Champions League qualifying, where they made a winning start by overcoming ML Vitebsk before suffering a penalty-shootout defeat to Levski Sofia, dropping them into the Europa League.
The White-Blues then saw off KuPS to reach the upcoming playoff tie, where they will be hoping their recent league form does not disrupt their chances of progressing to the league phase of the Europa League.
The reigning Romanian champions have, however, won just two of their opening five league matches, with a shocking 5-1 defeat to Dinamo Bucuresti stunning Coelho's side after just two games.
That poor beginning to the campaign has left Craiova four points adrift of league leaders FCSB, although their European form has offered encouragement.
Ararat-Armenia, meanwhile, also entered the new campaign as domestic champions after winning the Armenian Premier League for the third time, despite being founded just nine years ago.
Their title defence has begun in much more impressive fashion, with Tulipa's side winning all three of their opening league matches and averaging more than two goals per game.
Like their upcoming opponents, Ararat-Armenia began their European campaign in Champions League qualifying, but their hopes were ended by Celje.
That defeat last week would have been particularly frustrating, as the Armenian side were leading on aggregate with just 10 minutes remaining before late goals from Yaya Dukuly and Benjamin Verbic within the space of two minutes turned the tie around.
The result denied Ararat-Armenia the chance to reach the league phase of the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Craiova vs. Ararat-Armenia form guide & betting tips
| Craiova | vs. | Ararat-Armenia |
|---|---|---|
W
D
L
W
D
|
Form |
W
W
W
L
W
|
| 8 | Goals For | 8 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 9 |
D
W
|
Europa League | N/A |
Whispers predicts: Craiova 2-0 Ararat-Armenia
Although the hosts enter this clash in indifferent domestic form, they have continued to impress in Europe and we expect Craiova to make the most of home advantage on Thursday.
A win for Craiova is priced at 19/50, while their defensive record makes us expect another disciplined performance at the back.
We are therefore backing Under 2.5 Goals at 43/40 and Both Teams to Score – No at 8/11, with our correct-score prediction of 2-0 priced at 6/1.
> Craiova to win at 19/50 | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 43/40 | Likelihood: Probable
> Both Teams to Score – No at 8/11 | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score of 2-0 at 6/1 | Likelihood: Outsider