Sports Weekend

A roundup of the top stories from sports

Florin Orban, 19.12.2025, 13:45

Universitatea Craiova has missed out on a place in the play-off round for the last sixteen of Europa Conference League. The club from Oltenia finished the main phase of the competition in 25^th place overall, with only teams ranked between 9^th and 24^th advancing to the play-offs. The top eight qualified directly to the round of sixteen.

Craiova’s disappointing outcome followed a dramatic 3–2 away defeat on Thursday against AEK Athens. Universitatea had taken a 2–0 lead thanks to goals scored by Ștefan Baiaram on minute 30 and Alexandru Cicâldău on minute 39. AEK reduced the deficit in on minute 66 through Croatian defender Domagoj Vida. In stoppage time, the Greek side equalised via Swiss midfielder Dereck Kutesa and, just before the final whistle, earned a penalty, which was converted by Serbia’s Luka Jović.

As a result, Universitatea Craiova is left only with the memory of an impressive showing in their first participation in a European competition under the new format. The team recorded victories against Rapid Vienna and Mainz, drew against Armenian side Noah, and suffered defeats away to Raków in Poland, at home against Sparta Prague, and in Athens against AEK.

Romania is now left with just one representative in European competitions: FCSB, in Europa League. In the main group stage, FCSB still has two matches to play in January, away to Dinamo Zagreb on the 22^nd and at home against Fenerbahçe on the 29^th.

This weekend will see matches counting towards the 21^st round of the Romanian Super League. On Friday, just one match: FC Botoșani versus CFR Cluj. On Saturday, Metaloglobus Bucharest will face Unirea Slobozia in Clinceni, Oțelul Galați will host FC Argeș, and UTA will take on Dinamo Bucharest in Arad.

Sunday’s first match sees FC Hermannstadt take on Petrolul Ploiești in Sibiu, followed by a tough fixture in Cluj, where Universitatea will go up against Farul Constanța. In the evening, the highlight of the round will be played on National Arena stadium in Bucharest: the derby pitting FCSB against Bucharest rivals Rapid. The final match of the round takes place on Monday, between Universitatea Craiova and Csíkszereda.

Rapid sits at the top of the league tables with 39 points, followed by Dinamo Bucharest and FC Botoșani, both with 38. (VP)