RRI Sports Club
Romanian champions Universitatea Craiova are on the verge of their biggest international achievement in recent years.
Florin Orban, 19.08.2026, 13:45
Romanian football champions Universitatea Craiova face another international test on Thursday, when they take on Ararat-Armenia in the Europa League play-off round. The match will be played in Craiova and is expected to be staged in front of a full house. The Romanians come into the tie after eliminating Finnish champions KuPS Kuopio in the third qualifying round of the Europa League. The first leg in Finland ended 1-1, before Craiova won the return 2-1 at home.
The Armenian side entered the Europa League after being knocked out of the Champions League in the third qualifying round by Slovenian team Celje. Although Ararat-Armenia won the first leg 2-1 at home, they lost the return 2-0 away. For Universitatea Craiova, reaching the league phase of the Europa League would represent their biggest international achievement in recent years. Last season, the Romanians played in the Conference League league phase, narrowly missing out on a place in the knockout stage. Among the teams they defeated were Austria’s Rapid Vienna and Germany’s Mainz.
Ararat-Armenia had two ties in last season’s Conference League qualifying campaign. They won their first, against Universitatea Cluj, drawing 0-0 in Armenia before winning 2-1 in Romania. They then faced Sparta Prague and were beaten in both legs, losing 2-1 at home and 4-1 away.
This year, the Caucasus-based club are on the brink of the biggest international achievement in their history, with a place in the league phase of a European competition already guaranteed. It should be recalled that the winner of the Craiova-Ararat tie will enter the Europa League, while the losing side will drop into the Conference League.
Meanwhile, in Romania’s Superliga, Craiova currently sit ninth, with two wins, one draw and two defeats. At the weekend, Craiova drew 1-1 away to Oțelul in Galați. The Armenian league is only just getting under way. In their three matches so far, Ararat have recorded three wins and sit second, level on points with FC Noah but with an inferior goal difference. On Saturday, Craiova’s opponents beat FC Van 2-0 at home.
