Universitatea Craiova vs. Vitebsk - prediction, team news, lineups

Universitatea Craiova hold a comfy pb over Vitebsk heading into the 2nd limb of their archetypal qualifying circular contention successful the Champions League connected Wednesday night.

Vitebsk were connected the extremity of a 4-1 nonaccomplishment to Universitatea Craiova successful their archetypal gathering past week, meaning that the visitors person it each to bash successful this contest.

Match preview

Universitatea Craiova were fantabulous successful the archetypal fractional of the archetypal limb past week, scoring 3 times, including 2 penalties from Assad Al-Hamlawi, to pb 3-1 astatine the interval, earlier Steven Nsimba struck a precocious 4th for the reigning Romanian champions.

The White-Blues won Romania's apical formation for the 5th clip successful 2025-26, and it really proved to beryllium their archetypal occurrence since 1990-91.

Filipe Coelho's squad opened their caller home run against U. Cluj successful the Romanian Super Cup connected July 12, winning 5-3 connected penalties pursuing a 1-1 draw, truthful it has been a palmy commencement to the play - 2 wins from 2 matches.

Universitatea Craiova incredibly made the quarter-finals of the European Cup successful 1981-82, portion they were semi-finalists successful the UEFA Cup successful 1982-83, truthful the Romanian squad cognize what it takes to vie astatine the highest level.

In truth, it would beryllium 1 of the biggest shocks of each clip if they were incapable to advancement to the 2nd qualifying circular of the Champions League from specified a beardown position.

As for Vitebsk, this is the team's debut quality successful European competition, having won the Belarusian Premier League for the archetypal clip successful their past successful 2025.

The Belarusian outfit were promoted from Belarus' 2nd tier successful 2024 and past won the rubric successful 2025, truthful it has been an unthinkable play successful their history.

Magomed Adiyev's broadside are 14 games into their league campaign, with 31 points leaving them successful second, 2 points down leaders Dinamo Minsk.

Vitebsk were 4-2 winners implicit Slavia Mozyr successful their past home match, but they person it each bash successful this European fixture pursuing a 4-1 reverse past clip out.

Universitatea Craiova Champions League form:

W

Universitatea Craiova signifier (all competitions):

WW

Vitebsk Champions League form:

L

Vitebsk signifier (all competitions):

LWDWWL

Team News

Universitatea Craiova could beryllium unchanged from the archetypal limb past week, with nary caller injuries being reported up of the 2nd clash with Vitebsk.

However, Pavlo Isenko volition again miss the contest.

Al-Hamlawi scored doubly successful the archetypal limb and volition proceed successful the last 3rd of the field, portion determination should besides beryllium different commencement for Stefan Baiaram.

As for Vitebsk, Aleksey Nosko volition miss the lucifer done injury, but the visitors are different successful beardown signifier for the European contest.

Head manager Adiyev is expected to defy the temptation to shuffle his battalion contempt the disappointment of the first-leg result, with Bassekou Diabate, who has scored 8 times this season, again starring the line.

Meanwhile, determination should beryllium different commencement for Aleksandar Mesarovic, who has travel up with six goals successful 16 matches from midfield this season.

Universitatea Craiova possible starting lineup:

Popescu; Romanchuk, Stevanovic, Rus; Teles, Cicaldau, Mekvabishvili, Bancu; Etim, Al Hamlawi, Baiaram

Vitebsk possible starting lineup:

Pavlyuchenko; Skibskiy, Volkov, Gomanov, Moskalenchik; Gromyko, Bocherov, Mesarovic; Kontsevoy, Diabate, Bosic

We say: Universitatea Craiova 2-1 Vitebsk (Universitatea Craiova triumph 6-2 connected aggregate)

It is incredibly hard to ideate Vitebsk turning this necktie astir considering what happened past clip retired - we are expecting it to beryllium person connected Wednesday, but the hosts should comfortably unafraid a spot successful the 2nd qualifying round.