Sports Weekend
Romania’s football champions have secured their first victory in the main stage of the 2026-27 UEFA Conference League.
Florin Orban, 23.10.2026, 13:45
Romanian champions Universitatea Craiova claimed a 3-1 away victory on Thursday over Andorran title holders Inter Club d’Escaldes in the second round of the UEFA Conference League group stage. The win was Craiova’s first of this season’s campaign.
The visitors were off to flying start, scoring twice in the opening five minutes. Palestinian forward Assad Al Hamlawi opened the scoring in the third minute, before Ștefan Baiaram doubled the lead two minutes later. As the first half progressed, the game became more evenly balanced, and the Andorran side grew increasingly threatening after the break.
The hosts pulled a goal back in the 78th minute through Borja Arrellano, but Craiova restored their two-goal advantage eight minutes later when French striker Simon Elisor found the net to seal the result.
Following the victory, Universitatea Craiova move up to 11th place in the UEFA Conference League standings on four points. In their opening fixture, the Romanian side were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Spain’s Getafe. Their next European match, scheduled for two weeks’ time in Craiova, will be against Albanian champions Egnatia.
Meanwhile, fixtures in the 13th round of Romania’s SuperLeague are set to take place this weekend.
Friday’s programme features two matches: FC Botoșani against Petrolul Ploiești and Corvinul Hunedoara versus Universitatea Cluj.
On Saturday, Csikszereda host FC Voluntari in Miercurea Ciuc, before FC Argeș take on UTA Arad in Mioveni. The standout match of the round will then be played in Bucharest, where FCSB face Rapid in one of the oldest rivalries in Romanian football.
The first meeting between the two clubs took place nearly 80 years ago. On 4 December 1947, CFR Bucharest defeated ASA Bucharest 1-0 at the Venus Stadium in the capital. In the return fixture, played on 2 May 1948 at the Giulești Stadium, CFR recorded another victory, winning 2-0. In the most recent encounter between the sides, on 21 December 2025, FCSB defeated Rapid 2-1 at Bucharest’s National Arena.
Sunday’s schedule features two further matches. Farul Constanța will host Oțelul Galați in Ovidiu, before another high-profile derby takes centre stage in Cluj, where CFR Cluj face Dinamo Bucharest.
The round concludes on Monday, when Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe host Universitatea Craiova.
Dinamo currently top the league table with 29 points. Rapid are second on 27 points, while Universitatea Craiova sit third with 26. (VP)
